Bougainville – Our Island Our Fight
Encyclopedia
Bougainville – Our Island Our Fight is a 1998 documentary film
. It was produced and directed by Wayne Coles-Janess
.
The film focuses on an indigenous people
who fight against a multinational mining company and government forces. The guerrillas hold the belief that they are fighting to defend their independence and the local environment on the island of Bougainville
. This film is notable for its unique subject matter, as most Western media has not reported upon the Bougainville conflict.
, but is politically considered a territory of Papua New Guinea
. For the last ten years the people of this Island have fought a guerrilla
war with salvaged and recovered World War II
weaponry against government forces supplied with more modern equipment. The government has instituted a complete economic blockade of the island in addition to an extended campaign
of aerial bombardment
and violence against its civilian
population.
Bougainville - Our Island, Our Fight depicts the world of Bougainville residents as they leave their traditional coastal society to take refuge from a dangerous military conflict. An explanation of the conflict's causes reveals that the installation of an open cut copper mine at Panguna
had initially offered promise of economic prosperity for the region. Bougainville residents eventually determined that the mine project entailed significant ecological damage and social exploitation. Through interviews staged above the now-derelict mine, "Bougainvillians" speak about their initial recognition of the consequences of this mine, the poisoning of their water supply and the degradation of farmlands and jungle habitat. Later scenes show the difficulties which Bougainville residents face due to the naval blockade of their island. The blockade prevents them from receiving medical and humanitarian aid, leading to declining health and appearance of leprosy
(though some supplies are smuggled from the Solomon Islands
).
The film violated the Papua New Guinea government blockade. It was made at great personal risk to its director
, Wayne Coles-Janess
who had to be smuggled onto and off the island. It includes the first and only television interview with the BRA
President Francis Ona
and the defecting Papua New Guinea officer, BRA General Sam Kouna.
In the many international film festivals in which it has featured, it has provoked a strong response amongst audiences as diverse as Turkey
, the United States
, Brazil
, and Tunisia
It has also been used as a resource by Amnesty International
, the United Nations
, the Australian Army
and the Australian Parliament.
-USA
- USA
- AUSTRALIA
-USA
- AUSTRALIA
-USA
- AUSTRALIA
- TAIWAN
-SPAIN
- TURKEY
- AUSTRALIA
-USA
Festival List
-CANADA
- CANADA
-BRAZIL
-USA
-TANZANIA
-TUNISIA
- CANADA
-USA
-USA
The Bulletin - Tom Gilling
The Sydney Morning Herald - David Jenkins
The Canberra Times - Karen Hobson
The Herald Sun - Sydney
The Courier Mail Brisbane
Ariel Magazine
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. It was produced and directed by Wayne Coles-Janess
Wayne Coles-Janess
Wayne Coles-Janess is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning producer, writer and director of drama and documentary programs. Producing films that define humanity in international situations and engage audiences across cultures and nations.-Life:...
.
The film focuses on an indigenous people
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
who fight against a multinational mining company and government forces. The guerrillas hold the belief that they are fighting to defend their independence and the local environment on the island of Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
. This film is notable for its unique subject matter, as most Western media has not reported upon the Bougainville conflict.
Synopsis
The Island of Bougainville is located in the Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands (archipelago)
The Solomon Islands are an archipelago in the South-Western Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, in the region known as Melanesia. The archipelago is currently divided between two countries; Papua New Guinea, in which they make up the autonomous province of Bougainville; and the Solomon Islands,...
, but is politically considered a territory of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. For the last ten years the people of this Island have fought a guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
war with salvaged and recovered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
weaponry against government forces supplied with more modern equipment. The government has instituted a complete economic blockade of the island in addition to an extended campaign
Military campaign
In the military sciences, the term military campaign applies to large scale, long duration, significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of inter-related military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war...
of aerial bombardment
Aerial bombing of cities
A species of strategic bombing, the aerial bombing of cities began in 1915 during World War I, grew to a vast scale in World War II, and continues to the present day. The development of aerial bombardment marked an increased capacity of armed forces to deliver explosive weapons in populated areas...
and violence against its civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
population.
Bougainville - Our Island, Our Fight depicts the world of Bougainville residents as they leave their traditional coastal society to take refuge from a dangerous military conflict. An explanation of the conflict's causes reveals that the installation of an open cut copper mine at Panguna
Panguna
Panguna is a town and a copper mine on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. By the end of its operations on May 15, 1989 it was the largest open-cut mine in the world; it was also a major catalyst in the unrest in Bougainville in the 1970s and 1980s.- See also :* History of Bougainville*...
had initially offered promise of economic prosperity for the region. Bougainville residents eventually determined that the mine project entailed significant ecological damage and social exploitation. Through interviews staged above the now-derelict mine, "Bougainvillians" speak about their initial recognition of the consequences of this mine, the poisoning of their water supply and the degradation of farmlands and jungle habitat. Later scenes show the difficulties which Bougainville residents face due to the naval blockade of their island. The blockade prevents them from receiving medical and humanitarian aid, leading to declining health and appearance of leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
(though some supplies are smuggled from the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
).
The film violated the Papua New Guinea government blockade. It was made at great personal risk to its director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, Wayne Coles-Janess
Wayne Coles-Janess
Wayne Coles-Janess is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning producer, writer and director of drama and documentary programs. Producing films that define humanity in international situations and engage audiences across cultures and nations.-Life:...
who had to be smuggled onto and off the island. It includes the first and only television interview with the BRA
Bougainville Revolutionary Army
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army was formed in 1988 by Bougainvilleans seeking independence from Papua New Guinea .BRA leaders argue that Bougainville is ethnically part of the Solomon Islands and has not profited from the extensive mining that has occurred on the island...
President Francis Ona
Francis Ona
Francis Ona was a Bougainville secessionist leader who led an uprising against the Government of Papua New Guinea, motivated at least initially by his concerns over the operation of the Panguna mine by Bougainville Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group...
and the defecting Papua New Guinea officer, BRA General Sam Kouna.
In the many international film festivals in which it has featured, it has provoked a strong response amongst audiences as diverse as Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
It has also been used as a resource by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and the Australian Parliament.
Festivals and awards
Awards List- Winner "Gold Award"- The 32nd Houston International Film Festival
-USA
- Winner "Gold Documentary"- The Flagstaff International Film Festival
- USA
- Winner "Best Achievement in a Video Production" - St. Kilda Film Festival
- AUSTRALIA
- Winner "Golden Plaque, Video documentary"- The Chicago International Film Festival
-USA
- Winner "Best Documentary"- The Bathurst Film Festival
- AUSTRALIA
- Winner "Best Documentary"- New York Independent Film and Video Festival
-USA
- Winner "People's Choice"- The Best of Bathurst 98'
- AUSTRALIA
- Official Selection - Taiwan International Documentary Festival
- TAIWAN
- Official Selection - Elektrozine Ibiza 99
-SPAIN
- Official Selection - Antalya Golden Orange International Film Festival
- TURKEY
- Selected "Wild Spaces"- The Sydney International Environmental Film Festival
- AUSTRALIA
- Official Selection - The Hawaiian 19th International Film Festival
-USA
Festival List
- Banff Television Festival
-CANADA
- Official Selection - South Pacific Peoples Foundation
- CANADA
- Official Selection - Festival Internacional De Cinema
-BRAZIL
- The Rhode Island International Film festival
-USA
- Zanzibar International Film FestivalZanzibar International Film FestivalThe Zanzibar International Film Festival , also known as Festival of the Dhow Countries, is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It has been described as the largest cultural event in East Africa. During the festival, films are shown in Stone Town in Zanzibar City, as well as rural...
-TANZANIA
- Festival International Du Film de Kelibia
-TUNISIA
- The 10th One World Film Festival
- CANADA
- John Hopkins Film Festival
-USA
- The Kansas City Film Festival
-USA
Press Coverage
- "A powerful film about the ongoing civil war."
The Bulletin - Tom Gilling
- "Wayne Coles-Janess takes the viewers into the world of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army."
The Sydney Morning Herald - David Jenkins
- "a powerful image of a war,"
The Canberra Times - Karen Hobson
- "Eye opening doco,"
The Herald Sun - Sydney
- "Wayne Coles-Janess has produced a telling expose"
The Courier Mail Brisbane
- "Watch this documentary for disturbing cultural, political and personal perspectives"
Ariel Magazine
See also
- In the Shadow of the PalmsIn The Shadow Of The PalmsIn the Shadow of the Palms is the only documentary filmed in Iraq prior to, during and after the fall of Saddam Hussein. It documents the changes in Iraqi society, and the lives of ordinary Iraqis by focusing on a cross-section of individuals.-Plot:...
- On the Border of HopetownOn The Border Of HopetownOn The Border Of Hopetown is a 1992 Australian short Film. It was produced and directed by Wayne Coles-Janess.-Synopsis:On The Border Of Hopetown is a dramatic chronicle of travellers passing through a remote service station located in the Wheat Belt of rural Australia.-Festivals and awards:Awards...
- Life at the End of the RainbowLife at the End of the RainbowLife at the End of the Rainbow is a 55-minute, 2002 documentary by filmmaker Wayne Coles-Janess about the small farming community of Rainbow, population 500, which lies on the edge of the Big Desert, North Western Victoria, Australia.-Synopsis:...
- The Coconut RevolutionThe Coconut RevolutionThe Coconut Revolution is a 2001 multi-award winning documentary film about the struggle of the indigenous peoples in the Bougainville Island...
- Wayne Coles-JanessWayne Coles-JanessWayne Coles-Janess is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning producer, writer and director of drama and documentary programs. Producing films that define humanity in international situations and engage audiences across cultures and nations.-Life:...