UNDER A BAMBOO SKY

Directed by Serge Ou (Ride, Runn, Ford vs Holden, Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks), Under a Bamboo Sky uses new technology to bring vividly to life the extraordinary story of a group of young Australia POWs in WWII who were, unbelievably, present at many of the region’s defining moments of the war from construction of the Thai-Burma Railway to witnessing the atomic destruction of Nagasaki.

Narrated with the immediacy of the voices of those who were there, Under a Bamboo Sky weaves the oral testimonies of more than 60 former POWs together with archival material colourised for the first time and new location footage to deliver a moving, intimate and revelatory first-hand account of their experience.

Captured during the Japanese offensive and imprisoned in Singapore’s Changi Barracks, the film follows the three-year journey of these soldiers through four countries: subjected to slave labour building the Thai Burma Railway, shipwrecked at sea, and sent down coal mines in Japan. After bearing witness to some of WWII’s most history-defining events, they tell of returning home to families, wives and sweethearts after years away, and of the price they paid for the trauma they endured. 

Shining through the horrors of war is the spirit of these men who, remarkably, demonstrate an inspiring human capacity to find beauty in their surroundings and hold onto hope in the worst of circumstances. 

Told from the first-person narrative of those who were there, the film weaves together the oral testimonies of 63 soldiers to tell the story, making for a very personal, intimate and moving account. Of the testimonies and voices used in the film, four of the soldiers were captured from the HMAS Perth; they are (with names and age at capture):

18 yo Able Seaman Frederick Skeels (aka Fred) Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, F3401, HMAS Perth originally from Inglewood, Perth WA.
19 yo Able Seaman John Woods HMAS Perth.
20 yo Able Seaman Arthur Bancroft (aka Captain Blood) HMAS Perth (i) D29 F3239 originally from Fremantle WA.
31 yo Petty Officer Raymond Parkin HMAS Perth originally from Collingwood VIC.

Screening Windsor Cinema Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19

All tickets $17