THE BOY SOLDIERS

Australia, 1986, 60 minutes, Colour.
Tamblyn Lord, Gary Sweet, Bruno Lawrence.
Directed by Mark Joffe.

The Boy Soldiers is a short feature, part of the More Winners series. This followed on the successful Australian Children's Television series, Winners.

This film was written by noted writer Cliff Green (Picnic at Hanging Rock). It focuses on World War One, the jingoistic loyalty of the time, a conscientious objector and his treatment in the army. The film has a strong cast including Bruno Lawrence and Gary Sweet. It was directed by Mark Joffe, director of the thriller Grievous Bodily Harm.

The film re-creates its period with some detail and forcefulness. It also highlights aspects of militarism and the role of the conscientious objector. It is based on a true story.

1.An interesting film about youth, for the youth audience, the wider audience? Australian film-making?

2.The atmosphere of World War One, the inner city, the suburbs, the courts, the military camp? Costumes and decor? Musical score?

3.The title and the focus on the enthusiasm for signing up for World War One, the Australian response, young soldiers? The conscription? The conscientious objectors and their treatment? Courage of convictions?

4.The focus on Will, his role in the family, details of family life, relationship with his parents, with his brother, girlfriend? His going into the army? His personal stances? The treatment by the commanding officer, by the sergeant - and his drilling him, his ill-treatment of him? The fellow soldiers? His duties? The conscientious stand? The boxer and the antagonism, the punishment? In the courts, testimony, the attitude of the judge - bigotry? Will finally making a stand on his values? The consequences?

5.The portrait of his parents, people of their time, love for their family, the attitudes of neighbours? The question of the war, signing up? Conscription? Will going to court? Their testimony? Their pride in their son? The criticisms, standing by him? His brother and his support?

6.Will's friend, life in the city, the larrikin? Honesty and dishonesty? Into the army, the training, his attitude towards Will? No clear commitment? His reaction to Will's stances? His place in the army?

7.The commanding officer, trying to be fair, duties for conscientious objectors? His attitudes towards the sergeant?

8.The sergeant, his militaristic attitudes, despising of Will, persecuting him, the verbal confrontations? The boxer? The drill? His disagreement with the commander?

9.The judge, his hearing the case, his own attitudes towards loyalty, hearing the testimony, his decision?

10.The values of the film seen in the perspective of later decades? In the history of the wars? Militarism? The conscientious objector and his place as a witness against warmongering attitudes and practices?