A new touring exhibition from the Australian War Memorial, Action! Film and War, is set to open in Sydney at the State Library of New South Wales on Friday 6 October.
More than 200 objects from our filmic and military past – including Australia’s first Oscar – will be on show as part of a journey from before the First World War until today.
“This exhibition explores the long and storied connection between film and war and how history is framed and remembered,” Australian War Memorial Senior Curator Daniel Eisenberg said.
“There is a tension between fact and fiction in this exhibition – exploring that desire for moving images to truthfully record history while also telling the best story.
“Film has shaped our understanding of the Australian experience of war, and movies have always provided comfort to those serving far from home.”
Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson, said: “The exhibition takes visitors behind the front lines to see Australia’s real and imagined wartime experiences.”
It features objects from behind the scenes of major Australian movies, shares the personal experiences of veterans staring in feature films, along with stories of notable Australians who have worked behind the camera – Frank Hurley, Damien Parer, Neil Davis, David Brill and more.
The exhibition also features a newly commissioned documentary by Neale Maude, Behind the Camera, that explores the stories and experiences of 11 Australian war cinematographers.
“This exhibition shows us the power of the moving image and how it is linked to our military history to shape the stories or our past and our nation,” Mr Anderson said.
Objects, technology, artworks, posters, paper records, photographs and oral histories will be on show at the State Library of New South Wales from 6 October 2023 until 28 April 2024.
