Amongst Equals

Plot

Australia's Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) initially funded this historical documentary, which provides an overview of the conflicts and achievements of the union movement in Australia from its beginnings until the Australian bicentennial in 1988, when the film was completed. However, instead of simply being a laudatory puff-piece, the clearly pro-union documentary took its history seriously and didn't gloss over the rough spots. Unfortunately for the filmmakers, the aggrieved leaders of the ACTU then successfully sought court sanctions to prevent the film from being distributed and seen. However, it surfaced in 1991(illegally) at two Australian film festivals in Sydney and Melbourne. Among other accomplishments, Australia's unions successfully fought for the eight-hour work day, were at the forefront of a historical preservation movement, and worked for equal rights for women and aborigines. With so much shown in the documentary for the unions to be proud of, reviewers were puzzled at the rancor the officials showed to this modestly objective film. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Credit

Tom Zubrycki - Director, Tom Zubrycki - Editor, Joel Peterson - Cinematographer, Tom Zubrycki - Screenwriter

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