Directed by Sam Medez, this movie takes hold of you from the very first frame and never lets go. The plot is based on a true story, or stories, from the Western Front on 6 April 1917. Whilst Firth and Cumberback are both in the cast, their roles are minor, the leads being George Mackay and Dean Charles, who take you on a non-stop journey through the battlefield. Cleverly, the movie appears to have been shot with hand held cameras in only one take (it couldn’t have been!). The action is continuous, in “real time” and closely follows the two leads for the duration, with the hand-held cameras, mostly in close-up, keeping you right in the middle of the action. It is totally immersive. This is a technical tour de force, with over 500 people involved in the special effects and digital imagery alone, and the battlefield is astonishingly real. But this British movie is not just a typical action war movie – it is far more. The gradual discovery of the backgrounds and personalities of the two leads and the interplays between them and the other characters, are fascinating to watch. Anyone who has been in the army would recognise the authenticity of the portrayals of the various officer, sergeant and lance corporal types. No wonder 1917 has won so many awards. Like any movie, it will not appeal to everyone, but, in my opinion, it is a cinematic masterpiece not to be missed. |
“It sounds like an overstatement, but the NYSF was one of the truly formative experiences of my life. The two weeks in Canberra during 1998’s Session A were a critical step. Most of my best and lasting relationships stem from my time at NYSF, the people I met through it, or the confidence I gained as a result of meeting a load of truly like-minded people. Most importantly, I learned that being a nerd was a good thing. Some might think of science as a pursuit of the anti-social, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Being a leader and being a scientist or engineer are one and the same thing.”
Sgt Ken opened the Meeting with a group recitation of the Invocation and called on Peter for the Loyal Toast, with 11 Members present (8 apologies).
Treas. Joe then read out the balances in the various bank accounts. Alan R noted that the consolidation of the Trusts had been completed and Anthony and Joe have to get the banks to consolidate the bank accounts. The only Trust which could not be consolidated is the Ken Oldmeadow Trust. Jo then initiated a discussion on the District Insurance coverage and cost. Phil informed us that the cost was very reasonable and that the District cover was one of very few which included cover for sexual offences, showing the power of Rotary. Joe also questioned whether it is compulsory to subscribe to Rotary Down Under.
The District 9820 Board have resolved that the Conference scheduled for Bendigo 20-22 March 2020 be cancelled due to the unacceptable risks posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.