Algy's little boat swirled round and round gently in the shallow waters at the edge of the beach, until it came to rest on a mound of uprooted kelp.
Still shaken by his long journey across the ocean, Algy lay back and rested for a while, staring at the dull, muted colours of the west Highlands on a dismal day in early spring, and thinking about his recent adventures and his safe return home, as well as other more serious matters in the outside world.
And when Algy realised that this happened to be the most sombre day of the year in the Christian calendar of his homeland, he paused to reflect upon the fate of those who suffer and die in innocence at the hands of other humans.
So for the sake, in particular, of the children of the world, Algy decided to share today this short anti-war film made by his assistant over 20 years ago with the local children of his own area, on the very same beach to which he had just returned in his little boat. It includes artwork which was created specially by the children of this remote Scottish community in order to send a message of peace to the world at a deeply troubled time. The drawn and painted images are the children’s own, and bear witness to the impact of world events on their imaginations.
(Clicking on the film may take you through to Vimeo - but it is public and free to view, so you do not need to create an account or log in. Just dismiss any login dialogue box that appears.)
Note: For those who are sensitive to such things, as Algy is himself, he can assure you that there is NO actual violence or war footage in this film.
Watching this film still sends shivers up and down Algy's spine… It is an appalling reflection on the humans who wield great power in this world – and on those who do their bidding – that this film and its message are as relevant today as on the day it was first released. In the words of a once-famous protest song, "When will they ever learn?"
N.B. Although this film includes footage of children and names (in the credits) there is no risk to them in sharing it today: the film was made nearly a quarter of a century ago, so those children have long since grown up and moved away, and some now even have children of their own 😊
(MESSAGE was made during the period of constant international tension and debate leading up to the weapons inspectors’ reports to the United Nations in February 2003, and the worldwide protests against war with Iraq on 15th February 2003. It was shown in film festivals around the world, and even had a screening in the legendary Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, at the first Annual Artivist festival in April 2004.
The song on the soundtrack is Chi M’in Geamradh/ I See Winter by C&R MacDonald performed by Catherine-Ann MacPhee (CDTRAX 038) (P) 1991. Used by kind permission of Greentrax Recordings. You can find other versions, including one by Runrig, on YouTube.)
