HAMMASKJOLD/ HAMMARSKJOLD: FIGHT FOR PEACE

Sweden/Norway/South Africa, 2023, 114 minutes, Colour.

Mikael Persbrandt, Francis Chouler, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Colin Salmon, Richard Brake, Sara Soulie, Thure Lindhardt, Jordan Duvigneau.

Directed by Per Fly.

For older audiences who remember the late 1950s and early 1960s, the name of Dag Hammarskjold. A Swedish diplomat, he was much admired at the time, establishing a pattern for the role of the Jews to of the United Nations. After his untimely death, his book of poems and spiritual reflections was published, Markings, the source of reflection and inspiration for the many who read it.

This film, focusing on the late 1960 and throughout 1961, offers an excellent opportunity for memories for older audiences and, one hopes, something of a revelation to younger audiences about one of the significant personalities of the 20^th century.

This film offers a portrait of Hammarskjold as well as something of a study of his character and his diplomatic efforts. Early in the film, there is his declaration to combat colonialism – and, while he fell victim to his efforts, his influence throughout the 1960s and beyond was quite powerful, especially in Africa, so many of the countries moving towards independence.

Hammarskjold is played by Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt (who had actually played Hammarskjold in a supporting role in the South African film and story, The Siege of Jadotville). And Hammarskjold  at this stage of his life was in later middle age, heavily involved for his life in diplomacy, a hard worker, if a lonely person, a very loyal staff who supported him, with whom he could share his ideas and hopes, and, in this film, a loyal friend in his chauffeur, Bill (Francis Chouler) on whom he could rely in every small detail of managing his time, his chauffeur.

Again, audiences need to know something about the situations in the African countries, the colonial powers and their influence, specifically here, the Belgians and the harsh history of the colonisation of the Congo, the severity of the rule of King Leopold, the exploitation of the mines and minerals, the vested business interests. By 1959, the Congo leader, Patrice Lumumba, with some ties to Russia, was viewed by many in the West as too dangerous. As the film shows, a business leader, Tshombe, secedes from the Congo to establish Katanga with himself as leader, leading to the assassination of Lumumba.

The Belgian government, the business interests, the corruption of Tshombe and links are set up with mercenary groups to support him.

On the political level, the film shows Hammarskjold and his ambitions, moves towards independence, encounters with Lumumba, discussions with John F. Kennedy, conflict with Nikita Kruschev, the sessions in the United Nations, the possibility of his being voted out, his taking a strong stance. There are also his negotiations with the British government, the possibility of face-to-face discussions to resolve the impasse. And, with some opposition, there is his decision to send in peacekeeping forces, initially successful, ultimately conflict with the mercenaries. And, this led to Hammarskjold’s death, publicly considered an accident at the time, later investigations highlighting the malice and sabotage.

Another advantage of the film is its look at Hammarskjold and his private personality, being a loner (except for a small pet monkey that had the freedom of his house, a genial companion, Mr Greenback), memories of past friendships, rekindling the friendship, a happy summer day in Sweden with friends urging to buy a house for his retirement, and the complexities of a close friend and issues of sexual orientation.

And, all the while, sequences of Hammarskjold at his desk, writing his reflections, the audience hearing them in voice-over, spirituality, poetry, self-questioning.

Worthwhile venturing back into the 1960s, world tensions and situations, and a singular personality who made his mark and was much admired.

1. Audience knowledge and appreciation of the person and political power and influence of Dag Hammarskjold?
2. Focus on his final year, taking for granted his previous political activities, becoming Secretary General of the United Nations.
3. The recreation of the New York settings, UN headquarters, the interiors offices, meetings? The African sequences, the massacres in the village, the rise of power of Tshombe, the death of Lumumba, the intrigues, the Belgians, the mines, the military, the mercenaries, the attacks? The musical score?
4. The use of newsreel footage, the use of the black-and-white television in the television sets, giving authenticity, the focus on Africa and the events, at the United Nations, the meetings, Nikita Kruschev, the Congo?
5. The role of the United Nations, the secretary general, the Security Council, the establishing of the peacekeeping forces? The perspectives on different nations, the objections of the Soviet delegates, the denials by the Belgians, the African delegates? The meeting with JF Kennedy, the decoding of encrypted messages, Kennedy and his stances? The intervention of the British, the negotiations for Hammarskjold visit for peacekeeping?
6. Dag Hammarskjold himself, his anti-colonialism stances, the events in the Congo, the meeting with Lumumba, the role of the Soviet Union, the uranium mines, the Belgians and their protectiveness, Tshombe and his declaration of independence, the new nation of Katanga, Belgium in support, the execution of Lumumba, the mercenaries, the initial operation and occupation by peacekeeping forces, the leaking of information, the second operation and the disaster?
7. The Secretary General and his stances, defying Kruschev, setting up the operations, Ralph Bunche and his wanting diplomacy rather than action?
8. The Belgians, the negotiations, behind-the-scenes?
9. The staff at the United Nations, Bill as bodyguard and chauffeur, friends? The staff in the house? His secretary and her loyalty? The work in the office?
10. At home, his privacy, the loner, Mr Greenback as companion, the monkey on his shoulder, liveliness in the house, getting free from the cage, his lead, death, his not wanting to view the body of Mr Greenback? His musings, his writings, the poetry? The encounter with Peter Levin, his making contact, publishing, Hammarskjold reading his books, the memories of the past, the indication of homosexuality, the attempted kiss, the reaction, the separation for 30 years? The contact again, the loneliness, the security check and finding Levin had a record? The return to Sweden, the birthday party, the friends, the happiness and peace, walking, the sea, the friends proposing that he buy the house, his decision? The encounter with Peter Levin, the police charge, the letter and the invitation for the future, Levin receiving it after the death?
11. The final issue, the decisions, the politics of 1961, his decision for action, Bunche staying behind, negotiations, the British, the plane, the guard, the leak, the scenes of negotiation with the mercenary dealers, setting up the operation to down the plane? The flight, those agreed to go on the flight? Arriving near the airport, the attack, the shelling of the plane, the crash, the burning of the plane?
12. His leaving behind the manuscript for Markings, his secretary, the publication? The insights into his character and interior life?
13. The information about the aftermath, Congo, Katanga, Tshombe and his exile?
14. The contribution of Dag Hammarskjold in his time? Consequently?

SECRET NAME/ LA PLACE D’UN AUTRE

France, 2021, 112 minutes, Colour.

Lyna Khoudri, Sabine Azema, Maud Wyler, Laurent Poitrenaux.

Directed by Aurelia Georges.

It is something of a surprise to find that this film is based on a novel by British author, Wilkie Collins, famous for The Woman in White and The Moonstone. This film is based on a lesser-known novel, The New Magdalen. Interestingly, The Woman in White and The Moonstone have been filmed many times for film and television whereas there were four short versions of The New Magdalen from 1910 to 1914.

The setting here is France at the beginning of World War I, some scenes of battle, nurses tending the wounded, negotiations of passes with the German authorities.

However, this is the story of Ellie, played by Lyna Khoudri, Constance in the The Three Musketeers films, D’Artagnan and Milady. We first see Nellie ousted from housekeeping, walking the streets, the revelation that she had been a prostitute, looking for some kind of refuge but being persuaded to become a nurse on the front line.

The meaning of the title comes into force when a young woman, Rose, is stranded at the frontline, reveals her story to Nellie, but it is wounded, presumed killed in an explosion. As with the title of the film, Nellie takes on the name of the stranger and takes her identity.

The film then takes a rather elegant tone, Nellie able to be a reader to an ageing wealthy lady, becoming her companion. But, for the drama, Rose was not killed and has arrived to claim her place in the household, deception by Nellie, investigation by the elderly lady’s nephew which vindicates Nellie, repeated attempts by rose to declare her innocence – and a final moral confrontation and search for a satisfying ending.

1. The title? The French title and identity theft? The English title, the importance of names and concealment?
2. The 1914 setting, World War I in France? Scenes of war action, nursing, the advance of the Germans, interactions? The musical score?
3. The plot based on a Wilkie Collins novel, The New Magdalen? The adaptation? Updating to the 20^th century?
4. Nellie’s story, the opening, her working, being ousted, wandering, her past on the streets, the other women, the man following her, the sexual encounter? The refuge, nurses, the volunteers, her being seconded, going to the front, her work with the wounded, with the officer?
5. The arrival of Rose, her story, death of her father, seeking out the widow of her father’s friend? Interactions with Nellie, Nellie helping her? The German attack, the bombardment, Rose and her injuries, to her neck, assumed dead? Nellie, her decision, the documents, burning her hand, the letter, setting out on her journey?
6. Her arrival, the representation to all, society, position, wealth, her assistant, her nephew, his preaching the church, visits to his aunt, the meals, intrigued by Nellie, yet his suspicions, his later work in verifying her identity? Is then volunteering for the front?
7. Nellie presenting herself as Rose, the documents, her research about Switzerland, her knowledge, her education, her reading, the character of the old lady, the growing dependence on Nellie as Rose, a happy life?
8. Rose, surviving, recovery, coming to the house, the confrontation, Nellie and her reaction, the old lady and her harsh judgement? Rose taken away, the doctors, the police, the institution? Her determination, her assertions? Nellie going to see her, the confrontation between the two?
9. Julien, the investigations, the issue of the wounded hand, Nellie seeming the authentic Rose? Rose escaping, coming to the house, further confrontation?
10. Nellie, her decision, revealing the truth, her own background, her mother, education, lower class, on the streets? The old lady giving her the ring, her pawning it?
11. The old lady giving the amount of money to Rose for her future? In the car, finding Nellie, the discussion in the car, her wanting to adopt her, Nellie asserting her mother’s name, wanting her to read, to go to Italy, the future?

LE DISCOURS/ THE SPEECH

France, 2020, 87 minutes, Colour.

Benjamin Lavernhe, Sara Giraudeau, Julia Piaton, Kyan Khojandi, Guillaine Londez, François Morel.

Directed by Laurent Tirard.

This is a brief and amusing French film, French style.

Right from the beginning, the film breaks the fourth wall, the central character addressing the audience, actually speaking out the main credits. And he continues to speak to the audience throughout the film, but taking the audience into his mind, explaining himself, justifying himself, scenes of him, frequently, at a dinner with his family and the audience being told what he is thinking while he does not say it to those of the table. Then there are various sequences of the speech he might have given at his sister’s wedding – and is reluctant to do this. Some of these sequences are very persuasive in his putting his foot in it but then his retreating.

His other dilemma is that his girlfriend is taking a break, like hitting the pause button instead of stop. And we have various flashbacks to his life with his girlfriend, their meeting, mischief in the park with a boy riding his bike, shared happiness, the breakup. And, all the while during the film he is waiting, at the family table, for his girlfriend to read him back on the 38^th day of the break. It is that kind of film.

Actually, Adrien, the central character, would be pretty obnoxious to live with! And, while we have his critical version, especially of his potential brother-in-law and criticisms of his parents, we hear their normal conversations as they discuss mundane things and are very cheerful with each other, enjoying the meal.

But, he does get the opportunity to reconcile with everyone – and a bit of rehabilitation for himself.

So, something of a character study in an offbeat kind of way. Also a portrait of relationships in an ordinary French family. And, elaborate wedding celebrations, the conga line, the speeches, the potential for mishaps, and, eventually, some happiness.

LIGHTS OUT

US, 2024, 90 minutes, Colour.

Frank Grillo, Mekhi Pheifer, Jamie King, Dermot Mulroney, Scott Adkins.

Directed by Christian Sesmo.

This is one of those action films which used to be called “straight-to-video”. Now it is “quick-to-streaming”.

There is immediate war action, grimly filmed, involving the central character Duffy, played by Frank Grillo, who seems to have specialised in appearing in this kind of action show. Then he is involved in a confrontation with someone cheating at cards, displaying a capacity for fighting. He is observed by Max, Mekhi Pheifer, with a proposal that they join together doing the rounds of the Underground fight club’s, making money from bets – something which immediately happens.

Duffy is wary of Max at first, then joins with him, goes to Los Angeles and boards with Max’s sister and niece, the sister being a victim of domestic violence. And he is tormented by flashbacks to the past.

The first minutes of the film, it seems to be a macho show for a male audience, then some acknowledgement of women as victims of male domestic violence.

The rest of the film is a combination of tough, very tough fight scenes, a wheeler dealer fights entrepreneur played, surprisingly, by Dermot Mulroney, who is also one of the producers of the film. However, the main villains of the film happened to be reputable police, actually working the fight clubs, claiming money, even shooting their opponents while keeping their reputation. In fact, the main villain is a female detective played by Jamie King.

Duffy becomes a more genial man, especially boarding with Max’s sister and niece, gets tangled up in more fights, building up to a confrontation with the corrupt police and shootout.

The film is principally for a male audience which likes this kind of tough action – and for a female audience who may be interested in a film with such a tough female villain.

The director, Christian Sesmo, has made many such action shows.

LA SAINTE FAMILLE/  THE HOLY FAMILY

France, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Laura Smet, Marthe Keller, Lea Drucker, Inna Modja, ThIerry Godard.

Directed by Louis-Do de Lencquesaing.

This is very much a film for audiences with a distinctive French sensibility, perhaps, a Western European sensibility. It will probably not appeal or interest audiences with Anglo-Celtic sensibilities.

The title is ironic. The central character, a famous scientist with biology theories about reproduction and the mystery of the developing universe, seen lecturing to a rapt audience at the opening, is certainly not part of a holy family. He has a wife, pregnant, becoming more and more alienated from him, going off to Tangiers to supervise work on the harbour. They have a young daughter together and he has adopted an older girl.

The screenplay by the director and main star, is something of a dramatic jigsaw, introducing a range of characters, having them interact, revealing more and more about them, having them make offhand remarks giving the equivalent of lectures, raising all kinds of themes.

And in this family which is not wholly, the ageing grandmother is dominant, a past relationship revealed which alters relationships within the family, the family planning to move the grandmother in with her daughter who is worried and concerned about everyone, sending her son, the scientist, off to Barcelona for the funeral of the maid who brought them up. His brother is nervy, drinking, about to become a father, then revealed as homosexual breaking off from his partner. And there is a woman connected to the family, in Barcelona, but bought by the scientist’s mother back to France to make an inventory of the grandmother’s possessions – and the family coming in picking and choosing, the scientist having a sexual liaison.

The above paragraph may make the film more immediate coherent than it is as we watch.

The scientist is approached by a woman who knows him, is French with an African background, and makes an appointment for him with the government where he is appointed a government Minister with a focus on science and family. We don’t see much of him in this role because he is much more involved in personal matters, his mother, coping with his brother, intimate relationships with the woman from Barcelona, visits to his grandmother, panic attacks…

Very much for a Francophile audience.

The Chevalier Family, First Friday theme

And an inspiration

Daramalan College Alumni, achievement with the Daramalan MSC spirit.

Over the years, the Daramalan Alumni Facebook page chronicles some of the ex-student achievements.  We have posted quite a number of these stories – a tribute to the MSC spirit in education.  This time, sport, theatre and business.

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It is interesting to see how many different paths our graduates take. Bohdi Noy (2019) decided to make wrestling his career after seven years of drama classes. Wrestling under the name Bohdi Kennedy, he performed in Australia and will continue his wrestling journey in Japan next.

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After announcing retirement from her Olympic hurdling career two years ago, Lauren Boden (2006) turned her hand to bobsled. She teamed up with another Canberra sprinter Sarah Blizzard to compete. Previously, only two Australian athletes have competed in the Summer and Winter Olympics. Good luck to these two outstanding athletes!

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Last week our Alumni member Zoe Davis (2019) returned to Daramalan College to talk to the Year 10,11,12 drama students about her pathway into the Performing Arts industry. Zoe answered multiple questions and gave tips to the ones interested in a Performing Arts career.

Zoe graduated from NIDA last year with a Bachelor of Technical Theatre and Stage Management. This year she got a job as a Professional Assistant Stage Manager on the production season of Sydney Theatre Company's "Hubris and Humiliation". Way to go, Zoe!

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Congratulations to Daramalan Alumni Lloyd Allison-Young (2008) for his performance at The Edinburgh Festival in the Legs On The Wall play. Lloyd was nominated for best-supporting Actor in Sydney last year and is proving to be a very versatile performer.

Lloyd Allison-Young graduated from Daramalan College, having a most distinguished history playing Peer Gynt while still in Year 8 and being the inspiration and founding member of the Comedy Club that was to become the Drama Club and now the Daramalan Theatre Company (DTC) Junior Ensemble. Lloyd was engaged as a professional Actor while still at school in Year 10 and appeared in the film "The Black Balloon", produced by and starring Tony Collette, along with a number of television cameos.

He was later accepted into New York's Stella Adler School of Acting and later into L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Lloyd performed for several years in Europe before returning to Sydney and becoming a prominent performer in the professional industry there. Lloyd has kept his connection with Daramalan College open. In 2019, he composed the music for Brecht's "Mother Courage", performed by the DTC.

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The founder of a kids-focused haircare brand is celebrating her products rolling onto the shelves of 530 Chemist Warehouse stores across the country after she found a solution to the battle many parents face when trying to look after their kids’ hair. 

While Brisbane-based MIMI was initially launched as an e-commerce brand in April 2022, its founder Emma Mackenzie’s long-term strategy has always been aimed at pharmacy retail. With the personal care needs of children aged 5-12 underserved globally and the market projected to reach US$137.11 billion by 2030, Mackenzie is gearing up for MIMI to lead the category with plant-based product solutions. Mackenzie told SmartCompany the national presence of Chemist Warehouse ensures the brand’s products are readily available across the country

Heart of Life Centre: Directors – Farewell and Welcome

Heart of Life staff gathered to begin the semester but also for a ritual acceptance of Director, Clare Shearman’s resignation after two and a half years and welcome to interim Director, Alison McKenzie.

Stephen Hackett paid tribute to Clare, presenting her with an MSC medal in recognition of her achievement as Director.

Stephen welcomed Alison. He also spoke to the staff about the report from the Provincial Council about Heart of Life and hopes for the future. He noted that the property bought by the province with its bush setting in Croydon and praised the renovations; it is the most attractive location the Centre has had.

Stephen also presented Heart of Life with a commissioned Icon gift. It is an icon of the Visitation, symbolic of the spirituality of Heart of Life, the Visitation, Elizabeth’s accompaniment of Mary, in her unexpected pregnancy enabling Mary to appreciate more fully God’s action in her.

From 10.00 to 4.00, the staff presented the courses, the group work, supervision and tutorials of the principal courses, Siloam, Damascus Spiritual Leaders and the Emmaus Supervision course.

Alison was present the whole day and found that it provided her with a lived impression of how Heart of Life functions. Alison spoke of her years at Downlands, Chevalier, work with the Vietnamese, The Chevalier Institute and as General Secretary of the Laity of the Chevalier Family, the MSC Heart Spirituality and charism that she brings to Heart of Life.

A farewell dinner ended the day at the Thai Green Leaf restaurant in Croydon.

And now, students and staff, to work for the second semester.

International MSC news, Philippines province

Cor Vitae Formators Training (Manila)

Chris Chaplin, MSC, is in the Philippines to facilitate some sessions with the participants of Cor Vitae’s nine-month formation training. This year, there are a total of 14 MSC Sisters, FDNSC, and MSC priests participating.

For July, Chris will be facilitating sessions on Integrity in Ministry, Facilitation, Fr. Chevalier and his times, and the Spirituality of the Heart.

Chris shares that the participating formators, together with the Cor Vitae Team: Sr. Cathie Mwagioidi and Sr. Cecilia Kim, are a wonderfully engaged group to work with.

Loyola School of Theology and Ateneo de Manila University

We congratulate Sch. Melvin Ellaga, M.S.C for completing the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and Master in Spirituality and Retreat Directing. May your theological studies inspire you to engage, accompany, and journey with the people of God especially the poor and the little ones.

We would also like to congratulate Rev. Fr. Nguyen Dinh Thi, MSC for completing the Integral Vocational Accompaniment program at the Loyola School of Theology.

On August 30, 2024, Frt. Melvin Ellaga, MSC will be ordained to the sacred order of deacons by his Most Rev. Honesto Ontiongco, DD Bishop of Cubao.

Laity of the Chevalier Family

Chevalier Family Lay Associates with our National Spiritual companion Fr. Bong MSC and Trigeneralate Fr. Gene Pejo, MSC

MSC Vietnam gathering and discernment, photos and reflections

With thanks for Bang for photos, Khoi for texts, Hoa for technical assistance

We discern our identity as human persons and as Christians. We discern our identity as MSCs today.

We are unique individuals, born and nourished in love, called to acknowledge and embrace our strengths and weaknesses, and be transformed toward holiness through our daily relations. 

As MSCs, experienced and believing in an intimate and unconditionally loving God revealed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we willingly and whole-heartedly share these values with everyone through our daily life. 

There were moments that the community sensed fear, anxiety and lostness while at the same time finding cathartic joy, gratitude, trust and hope in the God who is on the same boat with us.

We acknowledge our group vulnerabilities and realise that we need to be healed before we can be sent out in our mission as healers in our context today. We are called to become 'wounded healers’. 

With gratitude to God for His blessings and to the previous MSC generations for their legacy received throughout more than the last twenty years, we desire and confidently commit ourselves to continue the Mission of Christ entrusted to the Congregation by our presence, accompaniment, solidarity and healing in response to the signs of the time. 

Our community is a family in which each member carries within them wounds and fears caused by lack of listening, respect and dialogue; but when being able to share, listened to, pray and dialogue, we sense compassion, support, respect, empathy, generosity, trust, healing, freedom, outbreaking joy, with gratitude. Though imperfect hearts, we are still proud of the beauty in community life by choosing love, and long to become messengers of healing of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

With gratitude, trust, and longing to become true missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we imitate the model of Jesus - the ultimately loving, humble and meek Formator - in the journey of formation and self-formation with the support, listening, dialogue of the whole community. 

Every community member is aware of the responsibility to promote vocation and support the Vocation Committee by our living witness of the Spirituality of the Heart and all our relationships.