Television and Radio Some documentaries worth begging for

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 11

Television and Radio Some documentaries worth begging for

By

KEN FRASER

POINTS OF VIEWING

Like the Dickensian character, Oliver presenting his empty bowl, we could beg for more documentaries like two of substance shown on television this week. But our fatalistic sense would know the answer to be in the negative The documentaries, on a sea voyage in a boat made of leather and about a his-tory-making Mafia trial in

Italy, demonstrated that at least some quality programmes are available. Both were remarkable and unique in different ways.

Viewers in the first documentary were taken aboard a small but incredible sailing vessel of ox hides during an epic trip from Ireland to Newfoundland. It was a reenactment of a voyage purportedly made by St Brendan and a group of Irish monks in the sixth century to North America. Continuous filming by a crew member in terrifying conditions, while another member serenely kept luring sea gulls down to replenish the meat supply, was television Of an extraordinarily high level. A puncture from a breaking ice pack was the

only damage which threatened the resilient vessel, and again the filming continued as the hole was sewn up by bare hands in the freezing water. If the ancient Irish monks were far superior sailors than those of the twentieth-century “Brendan,” as claimed by the re-enactment leader, Tim Severin, then perhaps credence can be given to a

light-hearted theory that it was the Irish who also built the pyramids in Egypt. Wednesday night’s documentary on a Mafia trial with 60 clan leaders caged in the courtroom, and “World in Action” filming the proceedings, was an examination of a power struggle and sequel little publicised outside Italy. In spite of the “rule of silence” within the closed ranks of the “Honourable Society,” evidence was obtained which resulted in the three judges sentencing 28 Mafiosa to prison terms of five to 11 years for criminal association — the highest number of, and heaviest, court penalties incurred by the Mafia in Italy. At the time the

documentary was completed more serious charges were pending. Highly professional television journalism and camera work kept interest sustained from the spliced

backgrounding to the arrests and trial, including interviews with some of the accused. Finally there was the funeral, befitting a statesman, of the most powerful clan leader, Don Mommo, soon after being sentenced to 11 years in prison. Six thousand mourners attended the funeral, which brought a comment from the programme narrator that some would have been present from fear of not being seen to pay homage to Mommo’s young successor. It brought to my mind the title of a biography of a Sicilian bandit, which I read some years ago, called, “God Protect Me From My Friends.”

We can only make plaintive requests that more well-made programmes be screened to ease our television impoverishment.