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Clip description
A voice-over prompts the question, would you meet your neighbours with warmth and friendship or with bombs? Images of friendly Chinese people are contrasted with the bombs and destruction of war. This then cuts to youth erecting posters for the Youth Carnival for Peace and Friendship which the voice-over declares as an opposition to war. Preparations for the carnival include: arranging accommodation, booking halls and playing fields, sending invitations, preparing publicity, organising exhibitions and competitions, and fundraising.
Curator’s notes
The opposing ideologies of peace and war are established from the very first scenes in this documentary. At one point, the voice-over says that ‘wishing for peace is not enough. Peace must be fought for’. By contrasting the images of friendly Chinese youth being welcomed against the bombs and destruction of war, an ideological argument is made for peace. The Youth Carnival for Peace and Friendship is positioned as an active choice and part of the fight against war (and a fight against Prime Minister Robert Menzies) by those who took part. The Realist Film Unit’s arguments are powerfully delivered through subtle manipulation of the film elements music, voice-over, sound effects and image – especially in these opening scenes.
