Mike and Stefani
| Mike and Stefani | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ron Maslyn Williams |
| Produced by | Stanley Hawes |
| Written by |
Ron Maslyn Williams Roland Loewe (dialogue) |
| Starring |
Mycola Stefani |
| Narrated by |
Martin Royal Josephine O'Neill |
| Music by | Robert Hughes |
| Cinematography | Reginald G Pearse |
| Edited by |
Inman Hunter R. Maslyn Williams Brereton Porter |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 64 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £5,000[1] |
Mike and Stefani is a 1952 Australian drama film produced by the Film Division, News and Information Bureau of the Department of Interior for the Department of Immigration. Made to counter criticism of Australia's post-war immigration policy that it was too lax, it tells the true story of a Ukrainian refugee couple who move to Australia. The film is in the style of the Italian neorealism movement.[2]
Plot
When war breaks out, a young Ukrainian couple, Mike and Stefani, are taken away by the German invaders to separate labour camps. After the war, Stefani finds herself a displaced person. She is reunited with Mike at a refugee camp and they live there for two and a half years. In 1949 the camps are being shut down so Mike and Stefani decide to migrate to Australia. However, they first have to undertake a gruelling medical examination and interrogation by Australian immigration officers.
Cast
- Mycola — himself
- Stefani — herself
- Ladu (Mycola's brother)
- Valerie Paling — herself
- Australian immigration official – Harold Grant
Production
Ron Maslyn Williams was sent to Europe in June 1949 accompanied by documentary cameraman Reginald Pearse. They spent several months researching and developing a script. They discovered a displaced persons camp for Polish and Ukrainian refugees at Leipheim in Bavaria, which was run by a former Melbourne school teacher, Valerie Paling. A family was selected and a script developed based on their lives. Scenes were shot for the beginning of the film to recreate their life in pre-war Ukraine and documentary clips were added to provide background to the couple's separation and forced labour in Germany.
Shooting took place over two months in the winter of 1949-50. The interview of Mike and Stefani by Australian Immigration official Harold Grant was real, with the family actually not yet assured of acceptance into Australia.[3] However they were successful and the crew followed them to Australia. Additional shots were taken at the Film Division headquarters at Burwood, New South Wales.[1]
Release
Williams struggled to get the film commercially released.[4] It was mainly distributed through government film libraries although it did have a few commercial screenings and won a prize at a festival.[1][5][6]
In 2011 the film was released as a DVD from as part of the Film Australia Collection at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p212.
- ↑ http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2010/55/mike-and-stefani-r-maslyn-williams-1952/
- ↑ http://www.filmaust.com.au/immigration/transcripts.htm
- ↑ "Public can't see D.P. film yet". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 November 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ "Government Film Wins Prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 21 January 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ "Film Finds A Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 15 October 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ↑ Mike and Stefani. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. 2011.
External links
- Mike and Stefani at the Internet Movie Database
- Clip from the film at YouTube
- Article on the film at Senses of Cinema
- Collection of essays on the film by Lisa Williams
- Mike and Stefani at ABC website
- Mike and Stefani at Oz Movies