The Seventies People
| The Seventies People | |
|---|---|
| 70'ernes folk | |
| Written by | Peter Watkins |
| Directed by | Peter Watkins |
| Starring | Jette Jørgensen Inge Lundgren Erik L Christensen Anne Katherine Holm Elisabeth Hastrup Fredrick Rils-Petersen |
| Country of origin |
|
| Original language(s) | English/Danish |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Danmarks Radio |
| Cinematography | Henrik Herbert |
| Editor(s) | Peter Watkins Jeff McBride |
| Running time | 127 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Danmarks Radio |
| Release | |
| Original network | Danmarks Radio |
| Original release | 24 September 1975 |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
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The Seventies People (70'ernes folk in danish) is a 1975 Danish docudrama for television, written and directed by English filmmaker Peter Watkins about the high suicide numbers in Denmark in the 1970s, and the factors contributing to them. The film was produced by Danmarks Radio and only aired once in its native country.
Synopsis
The story begins with Danish police searching a Copenhagen canal for a suicide victim. The narrator informs that the suicide rate in Denmark is the 6th highest in the world, with an average of 1200 Danes committing suicide every year. It is estimated that for every fulfilled suicide, there are at least seven attempted suicides.
Several people are interviewed on the question of suicide prevention and mental treatment. The narrator informs on the poor treatment of people surviving suicide attempts in Denmark as many survivors are diagnosed as psychotics – later to be treated exclusively with pills and electroshock. There is little emphasis on other types of mental treatment, and there is little research on failed suicide attempts. Other factors like upbringing, media, school, pollution, gender-norms, living conditions, economy, unemployment, societal pressure and geo-politics are also explored. The film shows the police preventing a young woman from jumping to her death, and a reconstruction from 1973 where a 14-year-old runaway girl was brought back from Freetown Christiania. As Danish society cannot offer young people proper mental aid, Christiania is portrayed as a possible solution to their problems.
The movie also follows the life of Katherine (16) and Anna (17) who both have strict parents, and are struggling with problems in their lives. Anna’s parents have little time for their children as they have busy schedules, while Katherine has a complicated relationship with her stepfather who is close, but also very distant to her. Anna ends the film by confronting her parents, while Katherine gives up and takes her own life.
Production
The Seventies People was Peter Watkins’ first Danish production following his Swedish film The Gladiators (1968) and Norwegian film Edvard Munch (1974). Production occurred during the summer of 1974 for Danmarks Radio. The idea behind the production was the director’s concern for the stresses of modern life, reports of high suicide figures in Denmark, and the lack of research on the topic. During pre-production, hundreds of Danish individuals, including many young people, were interviewed about modern living. The film shows actual interviews, some being reconstructed during filming, and the family-scenes were enacted by non-professional actors after several group discussions.[1][2]
Reception
Danish critics heavily criticized the film, casting doubts on its message on desperate loneliness and fatal decisions. Some regarded the film as just a mouthpiece for the director’s own views and opinions. According to Watkins, Danish critics were suspicious of the film’s facts as they regarded him as a foreigner who did not properly understand Danish culture. The movie was shelved after its airing on Danmarks Radio, and telecasts in Sweden and Norway.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Seventies People at Peter Watkins site.
- ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Watkins, Peter (1935-) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
External links
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