The Changing Face of Europe

I'm working my way through all of Jennings' films as contained in the three-volume Blu-ray set "The Complete Humphrey Jennings". The films appear to be getting poorer towards the end of the set, and this offering, "The Good Life" (Part 6 from "The Changing Face of Europe"), confirms the downward trajectory.

Whereas most of the earlier offerings had narration that verged on the poetic, music that had the power to move, images that mesmerised, and storylines that were engaging, this 18 minute film, though competently enough put together, never rises above the pedestrian. It is simply telling a story that needed to be told, but in a rather forgettable style.

I found the most interesting part to be the section on malaria and Lord Byron (12 minutes into the film). And I've learnt something, so that's a positive. Not only did they spray DDT in the fields - and it looks like the researcher taking samples from a pond is also going to cop the spray - there are scenes of spraying DDT inside homes, a process known as "Indoor Residual Spraying" or IRS. It's a technique approved by the World Health Organisation, but Avertino Barreto, Mozambique's chief of infectious disease control, says: "Whoever suggests DDT use (indoors), I say, 'Fine, I'll start spraying in your house first.' "

I can't comment on the remainder of "The Changing Face of Europe" as I've only seen Part 6. But if that is representative of the whole, then it will be an historically interesting film, but not very inspiring.

I have only seen Part 6 of the six parts of this film. Entitled "The Good Life" (1951), it is a 40-minute documentary about Greece post-war. The master of documentary film-making, Humphrey Jennings, was killed during the making of this film, while reconnoitring one of the locations, and Graham Wallace completed the direction.

Filmed in Technicolor and sponsored by the Marshall Plan, it is about pan-European efforts to tackle endemic poor health and disease. A Scandinavian and Greek medical team visit a Greek village to carry out TB inoculations and a variety of other aspects of health are covered.

It is a charming documentary and the Greek children will bring a smile to your face.

Part 6 was shown during a short Humphrey Jennings season at the Imperial War Museum in London in May/June 2006.