Breaker Morant

[gmc]

Breaker Morant - the film, starred Edward Woodward, a British actor, in the title role. It's actually an Australian film, it was filmed not far from where I live. Morant joined the military here in South Australia and there's still a bit of local discussion about it because his name still doesn't appear on the Honour Roll of Boer War soldiers from here. I'm not sure if that has been resolved, last I heard a few years ago some people were trying to get his name put on the Roll.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/

Mel Gibson is an American (we only claimed him when he was being nice)

I stand corrected. I assumed it was british with edward woodward being in it. Lot of surprising films come out of australia & new zealand.

I reckon he was clearly guilty but was used as a scapegoat and to detract attention from what else was going on.

[Diuretic]

I stand corrected. I assumed it was british with edward woodward being in it. Lot of surprising films come out of australia & new zealand.

I reckon he was clearly guilty but was used as a scapegoat and to detract attention from what else was going on.

I think the script was either written by or adapted from a book written by Kit Denton. I also think that it may have over-romanticised Morant (just remembering the debate when the film came out) and condemned the British authorities perhaps too harshly. It's a sort of quirk in Australia that we look back at events in the early history of the country and its relationship with Britain and see them in a different light, almost a sort of revisionism. I think that the Boer War, which began before federation in 1901, saw various colonies sending personnel to help the Mother Country in her fight, of course back then Australians saw themselves as British rather than Australian. Our sense of nationalism came somewhat later.

On edit - wrong - it was from a play, so the IMDB says. Actually the book is a good read too.

[gmc]

I think the script was either written by or adapted from a book written by Kit Denton. I also think that it may have over-romanticised Morant (just remembering the debate when the film came out) and condemned the British authorities perhaps too harshly. It's a sort of quirk in Australia that we look back at events in the early history of the country and its relationship with Britain and see them in a different light, almost a sort of revisionism. I think that the Boer War, which began before federation in 1901, saw various colonies sending personnel to help the Mother Country in her fight, of course back then Australians saw themselves as British rather than Australian. Our sense of nationalism came somewhat later.

On edit - wrong - it was from a play, so the IMDB says. Actually the book is a good read too.

Attitudes change and people are better at questioning what they are told by their leaders. Also fighting for the British empire is not an ideal that most nowadays would relate to.

Looking back you have a clearer view of events and what led up to them. It's not so much revisionism per se as getting a better understanding of the way things can sometimes be portrayed. Politicians tend not to like it as the logical extension is to cast a cynical eye on what is happening today. They like to be in control but it's harder with a well educated population.

Gallipoli was another "glorious failure".

[Diuretic]

gmc - illuminating comments - thank you.