A letter to Ottawa Ivor Mills, Vancouver, writes: An open letter to Don ; , department of immi- gration: Easter Sunday, proved to be a record-breaker for mild- ness in Vancouver, a perfect day to accept an invitation aboard the Serdolik to learn something ~~ what: hospitality is really e. -. You, Mr. Johnson, would do well to visit this Russian fishing trawler too. It might warm your heart back to the realization that humanity comes ahead of pro- tocol, and that people matter more than bureaucracy. The 56 people aboard this working vessel have been denied shore leave for the three weeks the vessel has been here; 56 friendly people who wish to see Vancouver upon their first visit. Perhaps. a shortcut for you what you can do to cut short the new cold war on Russia so that east and west may meet on hu- manitarian terms. If we’ve for- gotten what that’s all about, a visit aboard one of these Rus- sian trawlers may help consider- ably. — Mr. Johnson, would be to see [ BREAKER MORANT. A South Australian Film Corporation pro- duction directed by Bruce Beres- ford. Based on a play by Ker- neth Ross. At the Bay Theatre. When one feels that this is the very best of the fine Australian films, and one of the few great films of the last 10 years, nothing but superlatives would be appropriate in its description. When shown at the Cannes Festival last year it stunned the audience, and only missed win- ning the grand prize because it was a film without women in principal roles, and there were those who felt therefore it wouldn’t be ‘commercial’ (Art vs. Profits in the Film Factories). The writing is superb — wit- ty, sharply political, anti- . imperialist in the most straightforward and knowledgeable way. The story is history, artfully dramatized, and with perception. The scene is South Africa in 1901 as the Boer War deteriorates into bitter guerrilla fighting. To close a deal, Bri- tain’s military leaders quietly AC agree with their King to appease {\MAY DAY GREETINGS Finnish Organization of Canada > the German Kaiser, who is lean- ing toward the Boers. They find a scapegoat for ‘atrocities’? committed by the Bushvelt Carboneers, a British anti-guerrilla unit made up mostly of Australians, The Military Court, all British — who hold the Australians in as much contempt as South Afri- caaners do the African Blacks today — sit in judgement, and . pick an Australian solicitor with no experience in criminal or military law to defend them. The solicitor has only one day to prepare the defence against murder charges, the change in him is visible. ‘He presents a fact-filled, elo- quent case, aided by the defen- dants who so awaken to the way the ruling class is using them that you find yourself wanting to cheer when two of the four judges are won over first to mer- cy, then acquittal. It is then that imperialist interests and chauvinistic attitudes take over. In Australia, and wherever the play and the fame of Harry “‘Breaker”” Morant is known he has become a controversial folk-hero. The acting is superb, giving the brilliant dialogue and the most painful scenes equally fine projection. The photography is truly artistic without ever becoming “‘arty.”” As for its not being a ‘‘woman’s”’ picture — it _ is a powerful human document which all people with a grain of pride in the struggle against im- perialism will share with gratitude. \ —Lester Cole 4 _ Natassia Kinsky as Tess in | the Roman Polanski film. TESS. Starring Natassia Kinsky. Directed by “Roman Polanski from ‘screenplay by Polanski, John Brownjohn and Gerard Brach. From the novel by Thomas Hardy. At the Dunbar Theatre. * : One of the genuine English literary classics. of the late 19th century, this famous Thomas Hardy novel, in order to become a successful film, re- quired great talent and a com- bination and cooperation of the finest skills were it to succeed. They seem all to be present: a fine musical composition with a symphony orchestra to fulfill its beauty; the English countryside brought to vivid life, not merely in its scenic beauty, but in the gruelling, slavelike labor ex- tracted from the women; the real peasants of the region - beautifully blended with the professionals to heighten the. reality; and, bringing them all together, a devoted and diligent director. In the England of that time the conflict was between the rural, aristocratically im . standards of ‘‘class”’ and the in- dustrial revolution. The tragedy, to a greater or lesser degree, is felt by all, but our at- tention is focused on Tess, the breathtakingly beautiful young — woman, devoured by the eyes of all men. | She is the oldest of six, her father a wornout worker, reliev- ing his fatigue and bitterness through the bottle. Allis despair when word comes through the ~ town minister, a genealogist by — hobby, that Tess’ father, John Durbeyfield, is in reality John d’Urberville, one of a noble family dating back to the Nor- — man Conquest. Tess’ mother 15 _ electrified; as a descendant of this nobility, they can look up — other D’Urbervilles, and seek © aid. Surely the gentry will not let" their own noble kin live in poverty. Tess, reluctant, is sent upon F the mission. At the mansion she is met by the arrogant male heir to the fortune, who confesses that in order to enhance their | prestige, being wealthy, they | bought the name d’Urberville. Tess is taken in to the house as a result of the handsome Alec’s manipulations, and it is not long ~ before his purpose is ac- complished — he rapes her. When she is four months pregnant... . The film is three hours long, © and obviously I cannot outline” this epic romantic social tragedy — in the space allotted. Sufficeitto | say that Polanski is faithful to | every detail of the novel that he | could include within that time. | —Lester Cole 7 MAY DAY GREETINGS Fighting for a bigger, better more frequent, pro- gressive youth magazine. Support our 1981 Fund Drive For a $5 sub and/or donation send cheque or money order to May Day Greetings to our friends and supporters of the Tribune African Workers Under Apartheid Greet International Labor Movement | on May Day : Southern Africa Action Coalition ‘Australian marvel; Polanski epic | Celebrate Namibia Day May 22, 7:30 p.m. 805 E. Pender St., Van. Bargain _ NEW HORIZONS =< Sieae ! Music Society 102-1416 Comm. Dr. Van. MAY DAY GREETINGS from the B.C. Provincial Council, Ginger Goodwin Club, Vancouver Club, Fraser Valley Club, Okanagan Club of the YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE P.O. Box JOIN US IN THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS CAMPAIGN — 4488 v with the TURN MILITARY DOLLARS TO EDUCATION an. : : V6B 328 Soviet Union | __ PACIFIC TRIBUNE— MAY 1,, 1981—Page 18