This film is part of Free
British South Africa
South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts delivers a stirring speech in London, watched by an approving Winston Churchill, in this affirmative film about South Africa’s contribution to the war.
Overview
Stressing the unity of South Africa and its contribution to the war both in terms of natural resources and man and woman-power, this March of Time film’s primary purpose was to show the country in a positive light, emphasising the speed and efficiency with which South Africa was developing its industries to produce war materials as well as implementing a training programme for its growing armed forces, shown here by a noisy montage sequence featuring the distinctive Marmon-Herrington armoured car.
In the extract showing Prime Minister Jan Smuts speaking at the Houses of Parliament in 1942 we hear him stressing the need to tackle the roots of social unrest and suffering. Modern viewers may be struck by the contrast between these words and the images in the film showing the day to day reality of racial segregation in South Africa. The film also papers over the cracks in South Africa’s political system, mentioning the fact that the country had narrowly voted in favour of war, but not that the vote had in fact split the ruling United Party, with the Afrikan wing, led by Barry Hertzog, unable to support an alliance with Great Britain, their former enemy in the Second Boer War, and still hated by many Afrikaners.
Related
Victory Parade Victory Parade
Documentary 1946 21 mins
Soldiers from the far reaches of the British Empire arrive in London to take part in the official commemoration of the end of war in Europe.
Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Foundation
Documentary 1969 12 mins Location: Brixton
Beach, church and carnival – Chief Inspector of Brixton Police sent to Trinidad to learn about West Indian customs.
Child Child
Documentary 1947 18 mins Silent
Advice for village families on raising children to become strong, healthy citizens
Carnival Fantastique Carnival Fantastique
Documentary 1960 18 mins
Vibrant documentary that captures Trinidad's famous street carnival in 1960.
Messages from Bhupen Khakhar Messages from Bhupen Khakhar
Documentary 1983 37 mins
"Good taste can be very killing": personal reflections from the self-trained Indian painter.
Mauritius 1941 Mauritius 1941
Amateur film 1941 14 mins Silent
The film shows Port Louis, the capital; workers on sugar plantations and road mending as well as colonial life in the then British dependency.
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.