Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

The Archive Project (2006)

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clip ‘I wanted to get closer to reality’

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

In an excerpt from the only surviving interview with Bob Mathews, one of the founders of the Realist Film Unit, he describes the beginnings of his interest in film. Meanwhile, filmmaker John Hughes looks through the old film canisters Mathews’s daughter Sue has discovered in his cellar.

Curator’s notes

by Kate Matthews

The Archive Project is in part a detective story as Hughes pursues the people, records and artefacts that reveal the history of the Realist Film Unit. Rediscovered fragments invite speculation upon bigger stories and Carl Vine’s dramatic score helps involve the audience in the excitement of discovery.

There’s also a sense of sadness at the loss of parts of the story. We learn from Sue that Bob Mathews is in care, suffering from dementia and no longer able to recall the content of his films. He died before The Archive Project was completed.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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