GUIDE Lewis b Bo STUDY SCREEN EDUCATION

 www.metromagazine.com.au www.theeducationshop.com.au SYNOPSIS OF THE FILM A SUGGESTED The small section is cut off from their CLASSROOM APPROACH okoda (Alister Grierson, 2006) line of communication with the main is a 96 minute film set in Papua force of the 39th Battalion. Isolated in A suggested approach for using this K() in August 1942. the jungle behind enemy lines, they Study Guide in class is: is at war with Japan. Port must attempt to make their way back Moresby is under threat of inva- through an unforgiving, hostile terrain 1 Introductory exercise – formulating sion from Japanese forces who wish to return to their mates. Allegiences ideas from photographs capture the airfields there and so form, strengths and weaknesses 2 Locate and interview a veteran dominate the region, preventing the emerge and leadership battles threaten [see 2/16th web site www.starwon. build-up of Unites States forces on to destroy the group as the going gets com.au/-skip] the Australia mainland and in the sur- tougher and tougher. 2 Watch the film rounding islands. 3 Film discussion: General questions After three days with no food or sleep, about war, such as ‘Why did we A small group of Australian soldiers carrying their wounded and suffering fight: was it necessary [in 1942]? from the 39th Battalion have been sent the effects of malaria and dysentery, AND/OR as a forward patrol beyond the de- they emerge from the jungle exhausted 4 Film discussion: Is good fensive perimeter of Isurava, a village to the point of collapse. But then, on history? in the northern foothills of the Owen learning the situation is precarious at 5 Work through the problems in Stanley Ranges, astride the Kokoda Isurava, they pick themselves up and making such a film, and how they Track. move back to rejoin the battle. are addressed SCREEN EDUCATION CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY Kokoda can be used with senior students to explore the nature of war (in English, Society and Environment), and to explore the element of the Battle for Australia (in Australian History). Students of Film Studies will also be able to explore how a feature film is made. Teachers need to be aware that the film contains occasional crude language, and war-related violence.

 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This summary can be used as a teacher reference, or can be given to students to use with the exploration of the film as a representation of history.

n 1939 Australia declared war were later sent there also, and the 8th In December 1941 Japan entered against Germany for its invasion of Division to Malaya, based in Singa- the war with its invasion of areas of IPoland. Volunteers were called for pore. The CMF, or militia, were soldiers south-east Asia. The Japanese quickly nd the 2 Australian Infantry Force (AIF), who were to be kept within Australia forced the surrender of the Allied SCREEN EDUCATION and the was formed and for home defence. forces in Singapore (including the Aus- sent to north Africa. The 7th and 9th tralian 8th Division — over 15 000 men

 and some nurses), and continued to The Japanese, with a numerically su- This battle was a turning point. The conquer the area north of Australia. perior, well-trained and well-equipped delay in taking Isurava meant that force, overwhelmed the defenders. the Japanese supply lines were now By July 1942 Australia had only a The Australians re-grouped, and re- strained to breaking point. The Japa- few hundred soldiers, inexperienced, took Kokoda in fierce fighting. How- nese General Horii had to throw his poorly trained and ill-equipped, in Port ever, they were again pushed back reserve forces into the attack. For the Moresby, the administrative centre of and forced to make a fighting retreat. next two weeks the Australians began Papua. The key now was to slow down the a fiercely fought ‘cat and mouse’ with- Japanese until reinforcements could drawal from Isurava to Eora Creek. The Japanese had by this stage of arrive by foot up the treacherous the war decided not to attack Aus- mountain track. By mid-September the Australians tralia directly; rather, their main aim had dug in at Imita Ridge, only fifty was to disrupt American supplies and It is at this stage of the campaign, kilometres from , the reinforcements to the area that would with the Australians retreating to Japanese objective, and were ordered come through Australia. Their first Isurava and the Japanese about to to hold that position. A fight to the attempts to take Port Moresby were overrun the defenders and seize death was expected but the Japanese, ruined by attacks on their invasion Port Moresby, that the film Kokoda lacking sufficient supplies because of force at Guadalcanal, and then in the is set. their extended supply line, and fearing Battle of the Coral Sea. an American attack on their base at The Australians now dug in around Buna, now began to withdraw. The Japanese now decided to attack Isurava. The 39th were ordered to hold overland, and landed troops at Buna at all costs. They had lived for weeks During November the Australians now and Gona on the Papuan north coast without a change of clothing or proper pursued the Japanese through the and in the following month they landed food; their boots were holed and torn; stinking mud and treacherous, slippery another force at Milne Bay. their clothes were constantly wet; they tracks as they went back along the slept without shelter or blankets; most Kokoda Track. The Japanese advance The barrier between the Japanese were weakened by dysentery; ammu- through the rain-sodden jungles of forces in the north and Port Moresby nition was desperately short. One of Papua had been turned into a retreat on the south coast was the Owen the medical officers on the Track later but, even though many of them were Stanley Range — a steep, rugged described them as ‘gaunt spectres sick and starving, it was always a series of mountains crossed only by a with gaping boots and rotting tat- fighting retreat. Finally, they made their few foot tracks, the most important of ters of uniform hanging around them last stand in the swamps of Buna, which was the Kokoda Track. A small like scarecrows. Their faces had no Gona and Sanananda. It had taken group of the 39th Battalion and Papuan expression, their eyes sunk back into four months and the Australians had troops were sent to secure the vital air their sockets. They were drained by suffered 607 killed and 1015 wounded. field at Kokoda. malaria, dysentery and near-starva- For every man killed or wounded tion.’ Reinforcements from the battle- another two or three had been hospi- The 39th were poorly equipped for the experienced 2/14th Battalion arrived to talised for sickness. No overall figures task. They had insufficient clothing relieve the weary, battered and blood- for the 6000 Japanese soldiers on the for the wet, freezing nights, and their ied 39th, but there were insufficient Track are known. khaki uniforms stood out in the jungle. men to hold the area – so the 39th They had quinine as protection against stayed on with them. For the first time The Australian advance was aided by malaria, but the main problem was the volunteer AIF and the conscript the American 32nd Division which es- dysentery, for which they had very few militia (or AMF) fought together. tablished bases to the south of Buna medical supplies. while the Australians pushed on down The battle raged for four days. On the the Kokoda Track and across country Re-supply was in fact a major aspect fourth day the Japanese were threat- from Wanigela. Gona was taken on of the campaign. Motor transport ening to break through, until Private 9 December and on 2 January 1943 could carry supplies and equipment as ’s bravery in charging Buna was captured. Sanananda, held far as Owers’ Corner, then mules were the enemy, firing a Bren gun from the by 600 Japanese, was not taken until used to Uberi, after which the tracks hip, and clearing the area. Kingsbury 12 January. The total for the whole were too steep, and humans had to was then killed by a sniper’s bullet. He campaign was 2165 Australians killed carry everything. Most of the carri- was awarded the , the and 3533 wounded. ers were Papuans, who would carry first to be awarded on Australian soil wounded back on their return journey. (New Guinea was then a Protectorate

of Australia). SCREEN EDUCATION

 BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM

Here is a set of photographs from the period and the place you are about to study — the Kokoda Track, 1942. (See photos on PAGES 6-8)

he images all illustrate aspects brief caption that explains what is 5 Are there any main omissions or of the soldiers’ experience of happening, and then arrange them gaps in your story? TKokoda. Look carefully at each in an order that tells a story. 6 Imagine that a soldier who was on and write a caption that summarizes 2 From these images, what do you the Kokoda Track is coming to talk what you can learn from each about the think would have been the worst or to your class. List some questions nature of jungle warfare on the Track. hardest aspect of the experience? that you would ask him about the You should be able to cover a variety of 3 For each image, brainstorm to iden- experience. aspects, such as weapons, the prob- tify the main emotions or feelings lems of supply, the nature of the terrain, that might have been present among When you have finished this exercise evacuating the wounded, etc. the men involved in that image. look at the filmKokoda and see how it 4 Cut these images out and re- presents this experience. 1 Look at each photograph, give it a arrange them to tell a story.

CAPTIONS FOR PAGES 6-8: climbing the stairs, soldiers had to Japanese at Isurava in the Kokoda food suppplies on a cleared space at A: Kokoda Memorial, Isurava. B: lift their leg over the log and put area. H: AWM 026320 Wounded Nauro village during the advance of AWM ART23615 25 Brigade their foot down on the step behind members of the 39th Australian the 25th Australian Infantry Brigade advancing along Kokoda Trail in what was frequently a puddle Infantry Battalion making their way over the Owen Stanley Range. L: near Templeton’s Crossing. of mud and water up to six inches back along a jungle trail to the base AWM 013289 Members of the 39th George Browning, 1944. C: deep. E: AWM P02038.144 Kokoda hospital. They are all suffering from Battalion, AMF, parade after weeks AWM ART24074 Kokoda Trail. Track, Papua. 1942. Soldiers rest on gunshot wounds sustained in the of fighting in dense jungle during George Browning. Kokoda a track while on patrol near Eora fighting against the Japanese in the the Kokoda campaign. The officer track; 25th Australian Infantry Creek. F: AWM 027003 Papua, Kokoda area. To reach the Hospital in front is Lieutenant Johnson. The Brigade; members of a patrol New Guinea. September 1942. area they had to walk for nearly six men’s bedraggled dress reflects the from unit in brigade crossing The Salvation Army in a forward days through thick jungle. I: AWM hard fighting of past weeks. a creek on the Kokoda Track. area of the Owen Stanley Ranges. 026819 Papua, New Guinea, October D: AWM P02423.009 Imita Ridge, This very welcome tent, near Uberi, 1942. Unknown soldier’s grave on Papua, October 1942. Two native with its attendant cup of coffee and ridge between Ioribaiwa and Nauro. carriers and a member of the 2/4th biscuits, was a great boon to the J: AWM 013642 23 November Field Ambulance slowly climb the troops sick or wounded, going back 1942. New Guinea, Kokoda Track. so-called ‘Golden Stairs’ towards from the front. G: AWM 013266 Wounded being brought in by

Ioribaiwa. Each step was battened Eora Creek, Papua. 1 September native bearers. K: AWM 02719 SCREEN EDUCATION at its edge by a rough log which 1942, corporal J.A. Papua, New Guinea. October 1942. was sometimes broken and often Canty of the AMF, 39th Battalion just Douglas C47 transport plane of the slippery with a coating of mud. In before going into action against the United States Air Force dropping

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L Stills from the film kokoda taken by Jasin Boland

RESPONDING TO THE FILM

The filmKokoda has two main elements: it tells us about men at war; and it tells us about an aspect of a specific campaign, the Kokoda Track experience.

What does Kokoda tell us environment shape the nature of described in the film is duty or about the nature of war? the war? responsibility. But sometimes duty 2 There is a strong tradition of mate- can pull a person in two different okoda shows a group of Aus- ship among the Australian soldiers. directions. How does Jack’s duty tralian soldiers on the Kokoda How is this idea of mateship both to his brother conflict with his duty KTrack in Papua in 1942 (see demonstrated and also challenged to his country? map on following page). in the film? Discuss in particular 5 Leadership is an important char- the relationship between Jack and acteristic in war. Where do you see They are part of a small force of poorly Darko. examples of good leadership, and trained and poorly-equipped soldiers 3 War is described in the film as where are there examples of inef- who have the task of holding up a far a ‘crucible’ in which character fective leadership? superior Japanese advance along the and people’s qualities are tested. 6 The speech towards the end track from Kokoda to Isurava. The Describe some of the qualities where Lieutenant-Colonel Honner safety of Australia may depend on — positive and negative — that are addresses the men of the 39th their being able to hold off the Japa- seen during the film. For example, praises the men. Do you think it is nese attack. where do you see courage? an effective speech? Explain your Cowardice? Self-sacrifice? Selfish- reasons. You could compare it with

1 One dominant aspect of the film ness? Etc. a speech given in similar circum- SCREEN EDUCATION is the environment. How does the 4 One of the strongest qualities stances, where a small group of

 SCREEN EDUCATION http://www.kokodawalkway.com.au/stations/map.html

10 men are facing extraordinary odds are not the Japanese alone. Even ping and sliding down them is worse to succeed, in Shakespeare’s to get within bayonet length of the misery. Some of the ridges are so ‘St Crispin’s Day speech’ from Japanese is often a physical challenge steep that thousands of steps have Henry V – read or listen to it at which only a young athlete could hope had to be gouged from their sides. www.americanrhetoric.com/Mov- to endure. The jungle has deadlier At times, the ascent is so sheer that ieSpeeches/moviespeechhenryV. adversaries than the Japanese. It a man scrambles desperately on all html hits back at the fighting man with fours, or claws with hands and feet to 7 One of the key relationships in savage claws, with matted roots and naked rock faces, his boots fumbling the film is between Jack and vines and thorns, with tiger-toothed and scrabbling on the brink of an Darko. What aspects of war does branches and barbed undergrowth; abyss. This is painful enough when it this clash between the two men it mocks him with tremendous ribs of is not raining, which is seldom; in the reveal? mountain, with vertical peaks, deep wet, which is often, it is a nightmare 8 We never get to see the enemy torrents, agonies of rock and marsh; road to war. clearly in Kokoda. Suggest why it soaks him to the hide with whipping Clement Semmler (ed), The War not. rain, it saturates him with sweat, it Despatches of Kenneth Slessor, OUP, 9 What is the dominant image that is burns him with the incandescent heats Melbourne 1987 presented in the film? Is it that war and fevers, it cakes him with a pulp of is ennobling? Or a necessary evil? loathsome mud. B Corporal Burns, 2/27th Or horrific? Or some other idea or It is full of malaria, ague, dysentery, Battalion – Taking Wounded combination of ideas? Discuss and scrub typhus, obscure diseases; full Back explain your answer. of crocodiles and snakes and bloated Monday (21 September) arrived after spiders, leeches, lice, mosquitoes, a terrifically cold night. The boys were Is Kokoda good history? flies, all the crawling, creeping, leap- very restless all night especially Cor- ing, flying, biting reptiles and insects poral Williams and I sat with him for Kokoda is a film about war and what that even suck human blood (and the best part. The heat and flies were happens to men during it, but it is in the morning you make a habit of so bad that they almost drove us to also a representation of the Australian knocking your boots to shake the the first stages of insanity. experience of the Kokoda Track. For scorpions out). Its breath is poisonous; Wednesday 23rd was one of our many people this may be the only it stinks of rotten fungus and dead hardest days. The sun fiercer than ever knowledge they have of that historical leaves turning softly liquid underfoot; and it took a lot out of the lads. event. Does the film present an accu- mould and mildew put their spongy We had now used two of our last rate and fair representation of it? paws over everything; shoes, papers, three dressings … The lads had run clothing, sprout with grey beards, and out of smokes too and I collected a 1 Look at the historical background there is a mottling of brown measle- few likely looking leaves but I’m afraid document, on pages 3-4, outlin- spots on the cigarette which sags they weren’t quite the right type. Diar- ing the nature of the campaign in from your mouth, if you’ve been lucky rhoea broke out during the day and Papua of which the Kokoda Track enough to find a cigarette. we were lifting the poor lads for the fighting was a part. Does it matter Sometimes it’s so wet that wood next twenty-four hours without respite. that Kokoda focuses only on one won’t burn until it has been dried Again I spent the night with Corporal tiny part of the campaign? Explain by the little flame which you keep Williams at 0800 hours he had a drink your reasons. smouldering almost permanently, like and at 0810 hours we found him dead. 2 The 39th are often described in prehistoric man. Sometimes it’s so Dudley McCarthy, South-West historical accounts of the period hot that sweat trickles like brine over Pacific Area – First Year, AWM, Can- as badly trained, badly equipped, the lips. Sometimes it’s so cold that berra, 1959, pages 251-2. young and inexperienced. Does your bones seem to chatter. Sometime the film endorse this view? Give it’s so high that your ears hurt, you C A Soldier of the 2/14th specific examples to support your can’t hear properly, you have to keep Battalion conclusion. opening and shutting your mouth. Gradually men dropped out utterly 3 Look at the following documents At the end of the trail, the Japanese exhausted – just couldn’t go on. You’d on aspects of the Kokoda experi- with knives and bullets. But the jungle come to a group of men and say ence. Discuss and decide the enlists a thousand enemies before this ‘Come on! We must go on’. But it was extent to which Kokoda does or last enemy of all. It is unending, unre- physically impossible to move. Many does not reflect these aspects. lenting, unforgiving. It is maleficent. It were lying down and had been sick … is not made for man… Many made several trips up the last A The Kokoda Track Clambering up the precipices, slope helping others. Australians … plunged into this sometimes above ten thousand feet, Under the heavy loads the jolting obscure struggle for survival, have loaded with forty or fifty pounds of caused by steps often more than a SCREEN EDUCATION long since found that their enemies battle gear is physical torture; slip- foot in height made shin muscles red

11 hot, while knees threatened to give something more than words. Enemy bombing and trench mortars way. It is to the native. We call him a are giving our troops a punishment. Dudley McCarthy, South-West ‘Boong’ and honor him like a brother. My comrades are crossing the seas Pacific Area – First Year, AWM, Can- Without his loyalty, courage, and To the shrine of KUDAN (1) berra, 1959, page 195. endurance I’m sure we could never But I, like a caged bird, have done so well up here. Cannot join them. D A Journalist’s Description I’ve seen these small, wiry, brown My comrades have been scattered by It was seldom that anyone got a men. With their perpetual grins, carry- the winds, glimpse of the enemy. Most of the ing loads, which would make the aver- But they will bloom again as flowers of wounded were very indignant about age white man stagger, for hours at a KUDAN (2) it. I must have heard the remark ‘You stretch over rough, slippery mountain My name was scattered too (3) can’t see the little bastards!’ hundreds tracks. But alas! I shall not come to fruition. of times in the course of a day. Some I’ve seen them carrying, on For my Sovereign and my Country, of the men said it with tears in their stretchers, wounded men back to My name was lost on the battlefield, eyes and clenched fists. They were base and handling them as gently as a But I cannot lose this five-foot body humiliated beyond endurance by the mother her child. of mine, fact that they had been put out of Australian Women’s Weekly, 9 The comrades I talked with yesterday action before even seeing a Japanese. January 1943. Have become protective Gods of the At Eora I saw a 20-year-old redhead Nation; boy with shrapnel in his stomach. G A Wounded Enemy I, alas, am not yet dead, He knew he had very little chance After a few bursts of fire the order And my carcass in enemy land still of being shifted back up the line. He came to fix bayonets, and it was unburied. called to me, confidentially: ‘Hey, dig, then, for the first time, I became really (1) KUDAN – YASUKUNI Shrine is on bend down a minute. Listen … I think frightened. The clash in the village KUDAN Hill, TOKYO, where all us blokes are going to be left when was short and sharp with a few killed dead warriors are enshrined. they pull out. Will you do us a favour? and wounded on both sides. One Jap (2) Cherry blossoms symbolising the Scrounge a tommy gun from some- was lying beside the track with both warrior where, will you? legs chopped from the trunk of his (3) Being presumed dead It was not bravado. You could see body, and where his legs should have that by looking in his eyes. He just joined the trunk there was just a mass A soldier wrote: wanted to see a Jap before he died. of blood – he had been cut in half by ‘Whenever and wherever I die, I will That was all. Such things should have a burst of .45 ‘Tommy’ gun fire! His not regret it because I have already been appalling. They were not appall- eyes were still open and had a terrified given my soul and body to my country ing. One accepted them calmly. They expression and he was moaning. and I have said farewell to my parents, were jungle war – the most merciless And then came the beginning of wife, brother and sister.’ war of all. some of the terrible things that happen , Green Armour, Pen- in combat. Our officer didn’t have the Another wrote: guin, Melbourne, 1988 pages 195-205. stomach to finish off the dying ‘Nip’ ‘Whatever happens that may come to – instead he detailed me to do it, and I our country, to sacrifice one’s life for E A Survivor Remembers have lived to this day with those terri- his country is a soldier’s realization Once a patrol of ours found one of fied eyes staring at me. of his long-cherished desire. When our mates, who had been missing. Victor Austin, To Kokoda and I received my mobilization orders, I He’d been tied to a tree by the Japs, Beyond MUP, Melbourne, 1988, page had already sacrificed my life for my with a length of bamboo forced into 125. country. You must not expect me to his backside. He was still alive, but return home.’ died soon after. I went a little insane H Extracts From Japanese for a while and when we cornered Soldiers’ Diaries and A loose leaf from a notebook contains some Japs later on, the things we did Notebooks this: to them now seem horrifying – but I One diary records the following: ‘To the enemy officer: guess that’s war (VX66349). ‘31 December 1942 – received 1 GO I am sorry to trouble you, but I beg John Barrett, We Were There, and 5 SHAKU of rice. I am tired of you to bury my body, placing the head Viking, Melbourne, 1987, page 439. NEW GUINEA, I think only of home, towards the north west. I wish I could eat a belly-full. I have I fought bravely till the last. The situa- F Gunner Wheatley, in New hardly eaten for fifty days, I am bony tion was unfavourable to us. Guinea, on the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy and skinny, I walk with faltering steps, My end has come.’ Angels’ I want to see my children. A Study of the Japanese Soldier AWM

There is a tribute I, and I’m sure every 1 January 1943 – greeted the New 54 411/1/38 SCREEN EDUCATION soldier up here, would like to pay in Year, 1943. Received 2GO of rice,

12 Kokoda and the ANZAC Tradition

For many years Gallipoli was almost the only aspect of the ANZAC tradition that was recog- nized as significant. More recently, the Western Front experience of the AIF during the First World War has increasingly been commemorated; and most recently of all, there has been increasing awareness of the Kokoda Track as the ‘new Gallipoli’.

ow is Kokoda being com- Salute at last to diggers deeds in the jungles of Papua New memorated? And is this ac- who stemmed the tide Guinea turned the course of World Hcurate and fair to the Kokoda By Mark Forbes, Herald Correspon- War Two. veterans? dent in Isurava John Howard was there, too, ‘We’ve been hidden in the clouds arriving by helicopter at a landing site 1 If you only had the filmKokoda as for sixty years,’ said Keith Norrish as hacked from the dense forest, greeted a guide, how would you com- the white shrouds crept up the Kokoda by bare-breasted tribal women memorate Kokoda in a memorial? Valley, clinging to the mountainside and warriors beating drums. The Decide on the location, the words like the mass of Japanese troops who Isurava people erupted in screams of and the symbols that you would tried to encircle him and his mates six ‘Howard, Howard, Howard’. use. decades ago. They see the memorial as a After bureaucratic insults and saviour for their remote region; a new Now look at this information on the years of silence, Mr Norrish and nine gathering place for the young Austra- actual memorial. other veterans yesterday witnessed lians who have turned Gallipoli into a

the unveiling of a memorial to those sacred pilgrimage. SCREEN EDUCATION who fell in the campaign – men whose Chieftain Ivan Nitua invited them

13 ‘Kokoda Trail’ or to come, saying: ‘The blood of our ‘Kokoda Track’? vidual acts that saw Australia triumph, people is mixed in the earth of my land There has been a considerable in conditions of almost unimaginable forever.’ debate about whether the difficulty. It is a vision Mr Howard shares, difficult path that crossed the Mr Blume, like Mr Norrish, was telling the throng he hoped the Owen Stanley Range should gratified to see those who did not memorial – four black marble obe- be called the ‘Kokoda Trail’ return remembered. ‘I feel a lot more lisks marked courage, endurance, or the ‘Kokoda Track’. Both satisfied to see this memorial. I feel it’s mateship, sacrifice – would become ‘Trail’ and ‘Track’ have been done something for their honour. They a ‘magnet for young Australians, like in common use since the war. were mates.’ other places, like Gallipoli’. ‘Trail’ is probably of American Sydney Morning Herald 15 August An emotional Mr Howard said the origin but has been used in 2002. battles along the Kokoda Track in many Australian history books 1942, where a handful of hopelessly and was adopted by the 2 The memorial comprises four black outnumbered boy soldiers—barely as an official obelisks. Each has one of the trained ‘chockos’ whom hardened ‘Battle Honour’. ‘Track’ is from four words: courage, endurance, troops joked would melt in the the language of the Australian mateship, sacrifice. Do you think sun—and 500 veterans of the Middle bush. It is commonly used by these are appropriate words to use East campaign ‘injected hope and veterans, and is used in the on the memorial? Are there other heart’ into an Australia fearing invasion volumes of Australia’s official words that you might add? (see by the Japanese. history. photo of the memorial on page 6) Mr Norrish sees Kokoda as the http://www.awm.gov.au/ ‘greatest fighting withdrawal in the his- Look at this comment by a journalist encyclopedia/kokoda/ tory of the Australian army’. who was on the spot in 1942. It was a retreat he was lucky to make, having four machine-gun bullets I have always been annoyed by the ricochet off a steel mirror he had in his saying: ‘Remember, it’s the rabbit who prevailing belief that the Australian shirt pocket. ‘Without it, it would have runs who gets shot.’ ‘We were just troops rallied magnificently and, beat- taken the heart, the lot.’ With three horrified,’ said Mr Blume. ‘We didn’t ing the Jap at his own game, fought bullets lodged in his stomach, one in think anybody would be so damn low.’ their way inch by inch back to Kokoda his chest and another in his arm, Mr He and the thirty-one other mem- and eventually to Buna, Gona and Norrish walked the muddy track for bers of his platoon had fought off Sanananda, in face of desperate oppo- five days to safety … waves of frenzied Japanese attacks. sition. The Australian soldier needs no More Australians died in the On 30 August, they counted more fictions nor propaganda to justify him campaign than at any other place than 200 enemy bodies in front of their as a fighting man. during the war, said Dr Stanley [prin- position. The Japanese fell back through cipal historian at the Australian War Mr Blume had carried out his com- the range from Eoribaiwa because Memorial], describing the efforts of the mander, Harold Bisset, who was hit by their efforts to establish supply were ‘chocko’ militia battalion as remark- machine-gun fire, only to watch him doomed to failure from the start. able. ‘They got beaten all the way die in the arms of his younger brother. They fell back because they were back then turned north again. It’s one He remembered with awe the exhausted, diseased and starving. of the great epics of Australian military deeds of Private Bruce Kingsbury, who They had no combat air support, no history.’ was awarded the first Victoria Cross artillery except a few mountain guns History has reversed the war- in the Pacific theatre for his actions hauled in pieces up and down muddy time sledging by America’s General the day before. On the spot where the precipices, no transport planes to drop Douglas McArthur and the Australian new memorial stands, the Japanese them food. commander General Thomas Blamey. had finally broken through Australian Osmar White, Green Armour, Pen- Ignorant of the facts, they had berated lines, leaving nothing between them guin, Melbourne, 1988, page 208. their troops for not overrunning the and Port Moresby. Japanese, who outnumbered them six Kingsbury had grabbed a Bren 3 Does this comment diminish the to one. gun from a fallen comrade and raced Kokoda achievement? How might Col Blume, a private in the Kokoda into heavy machine-gun fire, shouting, Jack or Darko respond to this campaign, remembered an address ‘Follow me! We can turn them back!’ statement? by Blamey after the Australians were He mowed down more than thirty 4 During the film Colonel Honner pushed back initially, but only after Japanese, forcing them into retreat, says to the 39th: ‘History will buying vital time by fighting every inch but as he stopped to talk to two men remember you.’ Has it? Should of the way. he had rescued a sniper fired a single it? Is Kokoda a fitting memorial to

The general had told them they shot into his chest. these men? Explain your ideas. SCREEN EDUCATION had been defeated by an inferior foe, Mr Howard said it was such indi-

14 Aspect Needed Actual

Crew

Script

Finance

Time

Location

Diagram 1

MAKING A FILM – BY MAKING DECISIONS

1 Imagine that you have been asked Designer, Adrian Bilinsky, Composer the unsung heroes of the ‘chocolate to make a film such asKokoda . John Gray and Editor, Adrian Rostirolla soldiers’. What became obvious very List all the aspects that you would all met at the prestigious Australian quickly was that it would be impossi- need to work through, all the deci- Film, Television and Radio School and ble to tell the whole story so he began sions that would have to be made. graduated in 2004. thinking about a way ‘to collapse it Consider such aspects as – a In an industry that is notorious for tak- down into something more accessible crew, script, finance, time needed, ing at least three or four years to get in ninety minutes, so we came up with locations, etc. Add other headings an original feature film script up for a a lost patrol concept/genre.’ to the list below, and complete team of experienced players, the fact your ideas in the ‘Needed’ column. that Kokoda was written, financed, First draft We worked it out in treat- (see Diagram 1) shot and distributed in less than two ment form, wrote the story for the 2 Now read the following extracts years is all the more remarkable. lost patrol and gathered all the ideas from material supplied with the together, then we approached John media Kit for Kokoda, and use it The origins Grierson first became Lonie to write the first draft. to complete the column headed inspired by the story of Kokoda after Lonie quickly came back with a first ‘Actual’. his brother came back from walking draft which he supplied to Grierson: 3 Do you think Kokoda is an effective the track and was astounded by the It was fantastic and had a lot of the film? Explain your views. enormity of the history there and that it characters in there. In fact, it had too was still a predominately untold story many characters so we had to reduce An overview Director, Alister Grierson, from the Second World War. it down. I was able to come in and be

Producer, Leesa Kahn, Director of He began researching what he found in the luxurious position of being able SCREEN EDUCATION Photography, Jules O’Loughlin, Sound to be an epic story of the struggle of to work it in to more of a genre struc-

15 ture, fuse several of the characters into way back to join the battle because of the jungle mist, the energy sapping one and to build on it from there. they thought that was what the 39th humidity – that served as the starting Battalion expected of them and the point of how we were going to treat Finance Whilst Lonie and Grierson stakes were so high. That’s a true story the film. In addition, I looked at the were working on fine tuning the script, and that’s what blew us away because films of and the pho- Leesa Kahn met with Catriona Hugh- we thought there’s something really tographs of George Silk which gave es’ production company, GFN Pro- powerful in that, that captures the us a real vision and an impression, a ductions, and supplied Hughes with essence of the Kokoda experience, of very realistic one, of what conditions a director’s statement of Grierson’s course not having the resources to tell were like there. Then from there we vision for the film. a massive story of about thirty or forty branched out and looked at a lot of Hughes needed no more encourage- guys we reduced it down to a unit of films and got hold of a book called ment ‘I’ll never forget. I was salivat- about ten men who operate as this Images of War, which is a collection of ing with excitement because it was patrol. Second World War paintings and that a director with a great vision, a high was a big influence on the look of the concept, the project was do-able and Design Grierson was aware that trying film. full of creativity.’ to make the film on location would Then we had this incredible conver- have been impossible because the Location One of Grierson’s major con- sation about aiming to get the film terrain is so unmanageable with steep cerns was where, if not New Guinea, released by ANZAC day 2006 and rocky inclines and incredibly dense could they film that would allow them once that decision was made it set a jungle but it is also quite alien with to recreate effectively the landscape? whole series of timetables in place and regards to the sounds, the light and No one wanted to make a film that we had to do a lot of financing very the mood: could not capture the essence of what quickly and we had to go the funding It was really important for me to these brave men did so it was fortui- bodies very quickly and had to cast get the cinematographer, Jules tous that their Production Designer, very quickly. O’Loughlin, there to see the light, to Nick McCallum was incredibly keen To raise the rest of the funds Executive see the conditions, to start to develop to be involved in the project, having producer, Geoffrey Levy, a principal of his own idea of a palette that we could read the script and he already knew GFN Films, drove into action a private work with and the same for the sound of some great locations to introduce sector campaign and Catriona and designer, to listen to the place, to get them to. Leesa went to meet director of the a sense of it so that they could imbue Grierson recalls looking at the im- independent film company, Palace, the project with that. ages that McCallum had brought with Antonio Zeccola. While there, O’Loughlin wanted to him to their first meeting at learn a little about: airport on their way back from New Final script The final script was based How it felt under the conditions which Guinea: on events that happened just prior these guys fought in and also to go We looked at the stills and we were to the battle of Isurava where one of there to get a feel for the light, what just blown away as we thought ‘wow several standing patrols who were it’s like under the canopy, what the jun- that looks just like where we have just positioned about an hour outside gle canopy is like in New Guinea and been’ and he said ‘well, that’s in the of Isurava got cut off from the main the kind of light that permeates the hinterland of the Gold Coast’, so after patrols when the battle began. canopy in different kind of conditions, the meeting we organised another visit As Grierson explains: what it’s like when it becomes misty, to Queensland for a recce. Nick drove It’s the nature of the terrain that’s a what it’s like at night, when it rains, straight to these locations and it was constant theme of the battles in New all the different kind of atmospheric astonishing that these tiny pockets Guinea, individuals and groups getting conditions that effect the play of light of rain forest exist in the hinterland. It cut off from supply lines all the time. in the jungle. was this strange experience of driving So this patrol was cut off, not lost, and In addition to the New Guinea trip in right past someone’s house and had to fight their way back over three O’Loughlin also studied the accounts you think ‘I can’t make a movie here, or four days. In fact it was more than of campaigns by historians, particular- there’s a house and cows and dams a patrol, it was about sixty men in the ly Peter Brune and archival photos and just round the corner there’ but it jungle fighting to get back to Isurava. descriptions of the war from survivors. occurred to me that once you have When that group finally did get back to There are a lot of accounts of service- contained the frame, you’ve got some Isurava, they heard that the battle was men who describe the conditions and incredible flexibility. We were able to going badly for the 39th battalion so the environment in which they fought. find abut ten different locations all even though they hadn’t eaten or slept The environment played such a huge within a small radius of each other that for three or four days and all of them part in their experience. It was so clearly represented New Guinea and had dysentery or malaria to some de- hostile – the descriptions of how it felt that was just an amazing blessing. gree or another, they joined a parade at night, the intensity of the rain, the SCREEN EDUCATION of sick and wounded and made their frequency and overpowering presence Crew The locations had magically

16 fallen into place very quickly and Nick exactly what these men went through, From my point of view, it’s now sixy McCallum not only brought his own how it affected them and therefore the years later, you can’t get the cos- wealth of experience, he also brought honesty and commitment that they tumes. The main issue is our diet and with him a very experienced Queens- needed to bring to their characters in our lifestyle has changed dramatically land crew that he had worked with order to respect their stories. since then and people are now bigger previously. and taller so physically our bodies Cinematography For cinematog- have changed dramatically. Even if Cast As a film written for a large rapher, Jules O’Loughlin, it was a you can get clothing from the period, ensemble cast it was also going to be particularly difficult shoot because for example, a large man’s shirt in of huge importance to secure a strong the whole film was shot on handheld 1930/40s wouldn’t fit a small man and talented cast of young men. For camera to give the impression of the here now our sizes have changed so this they contacted respected casting audience going with the film as if they much. So I had to source some fabrics director Nikki Barrett. were an unseen soldier. without actually having it woven and ‘Nikki [Barrett] was really fabulous, We’ve been on the side of hills where have it all made because our cast is Alister [Grierson] went in with a brief, people are falling over and almost present day bodies. For each of our and she presented accordingly and falling off the sides of cliffs and the characters, ten initially, they needed at basically had cast the film in three camera man is holding an incredible least half a dozen shirts and shorts for weeks.’ ‘We did cast the net wide – we weight on his shoulders, both literally themselves and stunt people, so that didn’t just focus on Sydney, we went and metaphorically, and about to fall we could rig them for bullet hits. We around Australia.’ off the hill and he’s harnessed and had to have the clothing made up and Casting it was a challenge because we’re all trying to look as if we’ve been then have it broken down and then once the script was out there every on this terrain for a while and we are maintain that breakdown through the young male actor in the country used to it and we’ve only been on it for duration of the filming. wanted to be in the film. It was exciting half an hour. We were in the middle of to have access to that sort of calibre jungles where you see red belly black Direction The film had to be shot in a of actor and to generate that level of snakes just slither past and funnel web total of twenty-eight days so the film- excitement. Difficult because, with an spiders attacking members of the crew makers decided early on they couldn’t ensemble of ten, we had to see several and people having to deal with circum- afford to stop for wet weather. Rain hundred people to reduce that down. stances like that while we are trying to or shine, through mud and mist, all We hadn’t written it with anyone in get into the line of the film. of the crew and the cast persisted as mind and we were open to who would We wanted a real sense of immediacy best they could, filming in some ter- come along. with our characters and to that end we rible conditions, but for most this was decided to shoot the film hand held. blessing in disguise. Rehearsal Prior to filming, the actors The physical challenge of having to Simon explains: had a two week rehearsal period, hav- hold a handheld camera and move The Kokoda trail is known as one of ing already been on a diet and reading around with the actors in some of the the most difficult terrains for war- and looking at photos and footage places we were shooting was really fare in the history of mankind and it from the Second World War so that difficult, on very steep slopes, at times wouldn’t be right to make a film on a they could immerse themselves in the on rocky terrain and moving through- location that wasn’t equally as difficult theory of what had happened to these out the jungle. It caused its own dif- or almost as difficult. So we did have men. ficulties, not quite knowing where you incredibly tough times. The actual rehearsal period was very were going to step at any time. The The primary concern for Grierson was intense as they fought their way into other element of handholding was a to take everyone to an environment character and the unfamiliar head- time consideration as we had to shoot where they would be able to work to space of 1942 and being at war. the film really quickly and we knew the best of their ability and then back They were taken away for three days that we’d be able to work a lot faster if off: by some SAS officers and given an we weren’t using tracks, dollys, cranes I realized that filmmaking for me is introduction to the art of rifle practice and the like. If the camera was on the trying to provide those conditions for and patrolling on boot camp. shoulder we could just get in there all of your craftspeople and just to kind In addition to the regular scene and shoot these guys; be in there with of get out of the way. When you’ve rehearsals and costume fitting and them. got great cinematographers like Jules character discussions of the rehearsal [O’Loughlin], great composers, sound period, the actors also had the oppor- Costume With little pre-production designers, fantastic actors, great pro- tunity to meet some members of the time it was fortunate that Phill Eagles, duction designers, what can you do? original 39th battalion. This was prob- the costume designer, had worked on Just give them the environments, give ably one of the most important meet- plenty of war films before including them the materials, tell them ‘this is ings in terms of bringing home to the The Thin Red Line (Terrence Malick, what we want to do’ and try and steer SCREEN EDUCATION young actors living in a modern world 1998) a steady path.

17 Meanings A motto from a memorial at Peter Brune, A Bastard of a Place, The Bloody Track Produced/directed Kokoda summed up the film for Grier- The Australians in Papua, Allen & by Patrick Lindsay & George son and, he hopes, the film will allow Unwin, Sydney, 2003. Friend. people to develop a greater under- Peter Brune and Neil McDonald, 200 The Men Who Saved Australia - 4 standing of the story of Kokoda. Shots – Damien Parer, George Silk Corners Reporter: Chris Masters. There are four pillars at Isurava and and the Australians at War in New Producer: Jacqueline Hole. each pillar has a single word and those Guinea, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, Articles on Damien Parer’s Kokoda words are courage, mateship, endur- 1998. Frontline http://www.hyperhistory. ance and sacrifice and that encap- Peter Fitzsimons, Kokoda, Hodder org/index.php?option=displaypage sulates the experiences of Kokoda Headline, Sydney, 2004. &Itemid=696&op=page http:// and that’s what we really wanted to Paul Ham, Kokoda, HarperCollinsPub- sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/ focus on. The other things that aren’t lishers, Sydney, 2004. feature_stories/article_1540.asp mentioned are the things that you have Dudley McCarthy, Australian in the to battle through as humans when you War of 1939-45; Series One, Army, Web sites are there, like fear and hope and terror Vol V - South-West Pacific Area and excitement. That’s why we tried – First Year, Kokoda to Wau, Can- http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/ to write a story based around trying berra, 1959. asfaras/kokoda.html to explore all of those things and give Neil McDonald, Damien Parer’s War, each character a moment to have one Lothian, South Melbourne 2004 http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/AJRP/ or two or three of those moments, so Raymond Paull, Retreat from Kokoda: AJRP2.nsf/Web-Pages/ that in the ensemble, the viewer gets the Australian campaign in New HomePage?OpenDocument the chance to experience all of those Guinea 1942, Richmond, 1982. moments through the film. Richard Reid, Kokoda 1942: Papua http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/ New Guinea, Department of Veter- thekokodacampaign.cfm FURTHER INFORMATION ans’ Affairs, , 2002. http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ Books Film ww2/bfa/kokoda.html

Peter Brune, Those Ragged Bloody Kokoda Front Line Available in http://www.diggerhistory.info/ Heroes: from the Kokoda Trail to Screensound’s compilations of pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/ Gona Beach 1942, North Sydney, Great Australian Newsreels or from pages-2aif-cmf/39-battalion.htm 1991. ABC shops

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