Arena Gazette Feed

Notes from the not so former Iron Curtain or Echoes of Eric Hobsbawm

2015-09-08T13:25:19+00:00

We are pleased to host this guest post from Dr Frederick Baker, who is a director of British and Austrian parentage now based in Vienna and Cambridge. He is also an academic and an expert on the politics and culture of Europe. He has made a number of Arenas, including 'Stalin: Red God' (2001), a film about the nostalgia and persistence of support for Stalin in the former USSR, 'Imagine IMAGINE' (2003), an account of the enduring appeal of the John Lennon classic, and 'Shadowing the Third Man', which tells the story not only of how the film was made, but the history that informed it. That film was Baker's principal submission to Cambridge University for his PhD. He also made 'Eric Hobsbawm on the Pressburger Bahn' (1996), in which Hobsbawm looked at the turbulent history of the 30 miles of the world's first electrified railway from Vienna to Bratislava. It was part of a 3.5-hour meditation on nations and nationalism, entitled 'Stories my Country Told Me' (1996).

Syrian refugees thank Austria (Photograph courtesy of Frederick Baker)

The border between Austria, Hungary and Slovakia: the former Iron Curtain

I filmed there years ago and the pictures are in "Arena: Stories my country told me". Soldiers creeping through the undergrowth to stop illegal immigrants from entering Austria from across the former Iron Curtain – from Hungary and Slovakia.

Off camera Eric Hobsbawm told me: "In Europe, the money flows east and the people flow west".

The soldiers left long ago and the border crossings have now been sold off to the highest bidder. But this summer, a special chill is back, and its blowing not from Siberia, but the war ravaged heart of the Middle East.

Nickelsdorf

The same border 17 years later. It is beautiful summer weather. The Austrian police approach an abandoned poultry refrigeration truck. What the police find inside is not chickens, but people. 71 dead Syrians, including a one year old child. The news says they had each paid circa 2000 dollars for the trip. The ventilation had failed and the doors had been wired up from the outside. The next day the 4 presumed traffickers are arrested in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. They are 3 Bulgarians and an Afghan national.

The Austrian public are in shock. This is not the Mediterranean, this is Central Europe. This is not the sea, this was motorway parking. This was the A4, the same motorway everyone uses to get to the airport, off on holiday to all points east and west, but not Syria.

Pilgramgasse

Days later I was walking down the Pilgramgasse in Vienna when a group of women with placards caught my eye. They were sitting outside a pharmacy. Curious, I crossed the street, to see that instead of slogans, the placards bore words like: nappies, tampons, toothpaste and toilet paper. No it was not a surrealist joke, but citizens shopping for the things Syrian refugees need in Traiskirchen.

Traiskirchen reception centre is just south of Vienna and was built to hold 450 people. It currently holds 5000. Many refugees are forced to sleep in corridors or in the open. With no cash to go shopping for the refugees, I asked what else they needed. The freelance aid workers said mens clothing, suitcases and books. Books in English. Globalised refugees don't read German.

Poster at Westbahnhof station (Photograph courtesy of Frederick Baker)

Westbahnhof, Vienna

The next day the mood changed, thousands arrive at the Westbahnhof from Budapest. Victor Orban has shown a rare glimpse of humanity. Station kiosks are shopped empty. Volunteers push bottled water, toys and deoderant into the hands of veiled women and sunburnt children on their father’s shoulders. Only 6 want to stay, Germany is the word on all their lips and Munich is the destination of the trains they board.

In 1938 this station was the point of departure for the "Kindertransporte“ of Jewish children fleeing Nazi persecution. Time has moved on. This time Germany is the haven and England offers only barbed wire and dogs at the Channel Tunnel.

Eric Hobsbawm made this journey in his youth. Vienna, Berlin, Kings College Cambridge. His words came back to me the next day. President Victor Orban had returned to acting tough. No more trains to the west, even if refugees had valid railway tickets. "Germany, Germany“ the crowd of people at Budapest’s station chanted as if this was some sort football match. But it was not, it was history in the making.

Eric Hobsbawm always insisted on differenciating between two kinds of nationhood. The one defined by blood, as in Germany, and the other by citizenship, as in France and the US. But here was a new Germany. No blonde hair or blue eyes in sight. Eric would have chuckled to see these Syrian born wannabe-Germans chanting "Merkel, Merkel“.

The German Chancellor, herself from the former East Germany, had once said that multiculturalism was dead. But now she’s refusing to build a new iron curtain, and is opening up to one of the key facts of European history. I can still hear Eric telling me: „"In Central Europe, the money moves East and the people move West“. Merkel has understood that in 2015 it is not just Germany that has – to use Archbishop Tutu’s phrase - become "A Rainbow Nation“, but the whole of Europe too.

The East gave the world the word "Solidarnosch“, the proud name of the anti-communist Polish trade union that triggered the reunification of Europe. Today solidarity is in short supply in Eastern Europe. Besides Conservative led Britain, it is the Polish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian governments that are reluctant to take on a larger share of the refugee influx.

Austria is confused. Vienna took in thousands of Czechs and Slovaks in 1968, as they escaped from the Russian tanks out to crush the Prague Spring. The fatal refrigerated lorry was found on the very same border that saved over 100,000 Hungarians in 1956 and 1989. Yet on Austrian TV the Hungarian ambassador rejected any link between Hungarian refugees of the past and the Syrians of the present, as "unhistorical“. He is clearly no adherent to Hobsbawm‘s law.

Sitting in a sweltering Vienna it is hard for cooling not to be seen as a positive thing. Yet there is something especially forboding about the fact it was a refrigeration lorry in which the 71 refugees died. It is a similar angst of asphixiation, and return to the airlessness days of the Cold War, that makes many Austrians nervous when they see their neighbours building new fences.

Traiskirchen and the Channel

In a final twist that Eric Hobsbawm would have enjoyed, the Austrian government have brought in Christian Konrad, a retired banker, to sort out the chaos in Traiskirchen holding centre. There is a new law to force obstructive councils to house their share of refugees. Conrad is a man who made millions preaching the free market and investing in the east. In keeping with the new fashion for modesty, he is setting up his offices in a container, the same kind of container that is being used to house the new arrivals.

If we were shooting a piece to camera I know would Eric say? Yes you guessed it:

"The money flows east and the people flow west“.

West as far as Calais? Eric is sadly not longer here to answer that question, but from the perspective of History the present attempts to make the Channel Tunnel Britain's Iron Curtain must fail. You can't block something that was built to reach across the channel to grasp the invisible hand of the market, by also sticking out a bayonet and shouting the immortal cry of the little Englander.

Frederick Baker also appeared on the �鶹Լ��'s From Our Own Correspondent, broadcast on Saturday 5 September 2015.

Poster at Westbahnof (Photograph courtesy of Frederick Baker)

The border between Austria, Hungary and Slovakia: the former Iron Curtain

Off camera Eric Hobsbawm told me: "In Europe, the money flows east and the people flow west".

Nickelsdorf

Pilgramgasse

ARENA NEWS: Scottish Referendum and Nationalism

2014-09-10T12:20:25+00:00

�鶹Լ�� News reports on the upcoming Scottish referendum

With only a week until the referendum that will decide the fate of the Scottish nation, Prime Minister David Cameron has made an impassioned plea to keep Scotland in the Union, saying "I love my country more than I love my party". Cameron, along with Labour leader Ed Milliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg head to Scotland to campaign against an independent Scotland in preparation for the referendum on the 18th September.

The issues surrounding nationalism have affected countries all over the world for hundreds of years, forcing people to assess their geographic, social and political identities. The 1996 Arena 'Stories My Country Told Me' explores the fabric of national identity, looking at some of the violent seperatist movements fighting to form their own nation states all over the world. This clip introduces the main themes and instances of nationalism that have shaped many lives and borders in the past and continue to do so today.

1996 Arena on the fabric of national identity

Arena: Stories My Country Told Me (1996), Directed by Anthony Wall

ARENA NEWS WEEK: Assisted dying bill, conflict in Gaza and Dylan Thomas's love letters

2014-07-18T12:15:30+00:00

ASSISTED DYING BILL AT HOUSE OF LORDS

�鶹Լ�� Daily Politics reports on the debate over 'assisted dying' in the House of Lords

A controversial debate on assisted dying will take place in the House of Lords today, with a record number of peers requesting to speak. If passed, the bill would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose to terminally ill patients judged to have less than six months to live. Supporters of this bill include Desmond Tutu, who has said he reveres "the sanctity of life, but not at any cost".

In 1996, Desmond Tutu visited Anglican bishop Trevor Huddleston, two years before his death in 1998. Huddleston was best known for his anti-aparthied activism and worked with Desmond Tutu opposing the aparthied regime in South Africa. Arena filmed this rare meeting, where the pair talk candidly about the Christian relationship with suffering and their views on mortality.

Desmond Tutu and Trevor Huddleston on Christianity and suffering

Arena: Stories My Country Told Me (1996). Directed by Anthony Wall

CONFLICT ESCALATES IN GAZA

�鶹Լ�� news reports on the conflict in Gaza

The Israeli military has begun a ground offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip. Troops and tanks were sent into Gaza to deal "a significant blow to Hamas", Israel said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the invasion after days of intensive rocket fire and air strikes between the two sides. It is reported that 258 Palestinians, three quarters of them civilians, have died since the start of the wider Israeli operation on 8 July.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine stretches back decades, with many attempts for a peace settlement that remains elusive. In 1982, Arena filmed the Israeli novelist Amos Oz in his home town of Jerusalem, where he talks about his desire to create a dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. He believed that discussing their shared, albeit antagonistic, past could provide an avenue for understanding between young people on opposing sides. Oz takes a walk through Jerusalem, reflecting on his own experiences during the 1967 Six Day War and the complexities of the Palestinian-Israeli relationship.

Israeli writer Amos Oz discusses his work on the conflict between Israel and Palestine

Arena: A Walk With Amos Oz (1988). Directed by Dennis Marks, Series Editor - Anthony Wall

DYLAN THOMAS'S LOVE LETTERS AUCTIONED

Dylan Thomas letters

Three unpublished early love letters written by poet Dylan Thomas to his wife, Caitlin Macnamara, have been sold at auction for £11,250. Thomas met Caitlin in the spring of 1936 after the two were introduced by the artist August John, and were married soon after. In these letters Thomas declared his love for Caitlin: "When I think of you doing anything, anything at all, I feel so many hundreds of miles and days away from (me) that I want to lie down and howl like a dog at all the cruel, uncharitable things that muddle us up and won't let us be together".

Dylan and Caitlin had a famously tempestuous and often destructive relationship; an inscription in one of his poetry bookes read "From Dylan to Caitlin. Adoringly - in spite". Arena's 2003 film 'Dylan Thomas: Grave to Cradle" uncovers the truth of the poet's life and death, including his relationship with Caitlin. The couple were both unfaithful, yet could not keep away from each other. Here, Caitlin gives a shocking account of their behaviour towards one another before Dylan's death in 1953.

An insight into the life of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas

Arena: Dylan Thomas - Grave to Cradle (2003). Directed by Nigel Williams

ARENA NEWS WEEK: Christopher Lee's 'My Way', Anniversary of Tiananmen Square and death of Lady Mary Soames

2014-06-06T12:09:53+00:00

CHRISTOPHER LEE RECORDS HEAVY METAL COVER OF 'MY WAY'

Radio 6 music interview with Sir Christopher Lee on his heavy metal recording of 'My Way'

Actor Sir Christopher Lee is marking his 92nd birthday by releasing an album of heavy metal cover versions. The album includes a version of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way', originally written by Paul Anka. "My Way is a very remarkable song" said the star..."It is also difficult to sing because you've got to convince people what you're saying is the truth".

Christopher Lee is by no means the first person to cover Frank Sinatra's masterpiece. The Arena classic 'My Way' investigates the appeal and power of the popular song through it's multiple versions. From Elvis Presley, to Sid Vicious and David Bowie, it has become an anthem for the individual. The song has been recorded over 140 times but none so powerfully as Dame Shirley Bassey, here seen giving a belting performance.

Arena looks back at the influence of Frank Sinatra's anthem

Arena: My Way (1979), directed by Nigel Finch

To see more on the origins of 'My Way' and a piece from Arena series editor Anthony Wall, visit the Arena webpage http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006pn88/profiles/myway

25th ANNIVERSARY OF TIANANMEN SQUARE

�鶹Լ�� News reports on the 25th anniversary of the Tiananment Square protests in Beijing

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing. Crowds of protestors, including students and factory workers camped out in the square before the Chinese security services moved in on the 4th June 1989. The estimated death toll ranged from several hundred to several thousand and 1,600 protestors were arrested.

Two years after the events in Tiananmen Square, Arena travelled to China to investigate the growing phenomena of Chinese rock music, which emerged in the years surrounding the protests. Cui Jian was the country's first rock star and through his ability to rally the youth against a political movement, he has been cited as China's answer to Bob Dylan. One of his most famous songs became a protest song for the Tiananmen march and his band went on to symbolise a new musical revolution in China.

Arena follows China's first rock star Cui Jian

Arena: Rhythms of the World - China Rocks: The Long March of Cui Jian (1991)

Directed by H.O. Nazareth, Series Editor - Anthony Wall

DEATH OF LADY MARY SOAMES

Lady Mary Soames

Lady Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's last surviving child, has died at the age of 91. She was the youngest of the five children of the wartime Prime Minister and his wife, Clementine. Mary Soames served in the auxiliary territorial service during World War Two, manning anti-aircraft batteries in London, Belgium and Germany.

Mary Soames went on to become the chairman of The National Theatre from 1989 - 1995, appointed by Margaret Thatcher's government. Arena interviewed her last year for the documentary charting the history and influence of The National Theatre. She candidly talks about her role as chairman which was regarded with deep suspicion by the theatre. Whilst Thatcher's idea may have been to have her keep an eye on the National, it was not long before she fell into good company with many of the actors, remembered fondly here by Ian McKellen and Richard Eyre.

Interview with Lady Mary Soames, chairman of The National Theatre from 1989 -95

Arena: The National Theatre (2013)

Directed by Adam Low, Produced by Martin Rosenbaum and David Sabel, Series Editor - Anthony Wall

ARENA NEWS WEEK: Revolt!

2014-04-17T13:55:34+00:00

Arena looks at three stories of industrial and national uprising that have been brought to light in this weeks news headlines. Featuring the protests of Britain's miners in 1984, the republican activities of the Irish poet Brendan Behan and finally, India's long road to independence.

30th Anniversary of the Miners' Strike

2014 not only marks 30 years since Spitting Image first appeared on our screens but is also the 30th anniversary of the 1984 - 85 miners' strike.

�鶹Լ�� Radio 4 programme 'The Reunion' discusses the legacy of the 1984 miners' strike

The folk singer, playwright and life-long political activist Ewan MacColl sang about the impartiality of the media's coverage of the miners' strike in a song called 'The Media'. Here it is performed for Arena by his children Neill, Kitty and Calum in our 1990 documentary 'The Ballad of Ewan MacColl'.

Ewan MacColl song 'The Media', performed by his children Neil, Kitty and Calum

Ewan MacColl strove to put theatre, literature and music at the service of political campaigning on behalf of working people. He took inspiration from his humble surroundings, remarking 'Salford was my Paris'. His wife and long-term collaborator Peggy Seeger describes his pragmatic approach to song writing...

Wife of singer and political activist Ewan MacColl describes his approach to song writing

The support from the most impoverished members of the local mining communities was a great inspiration for many miners who took part in the strike of '84. In a forthcoming feature documentary 'Still The Enemy Within', produced by Bad Bonobo Productions, the miners who took an active role in the dispute tell their story of the longest national strike in British history. The film premiers at the Sheffield Documentary Festival in June.

In this preview, ex-miners Steve Hamil and Howard Wilson recall how the smallest donations to their cause had the most profound effect on their morale.

Preview from upcoming film 'Still The Enemy Within' produced by Bad Bonobo Productions

Irish State visit to the UK

Last week marked a historic moment with the first state visit by an Irish head of state to England. Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina spend four days in the UK and were guests of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle.

�鶹Լ�� News at Five O'Clock reports on the Irish President's first state visit to England

The 1991 film 'Three Irish Writers' looked back on the lives and work of three of Ireland's most famous and provocative poets and writers, Flann O'Brien, Patrick Kavannagh and Brendan Behan. Behan was born in Dublin in 1923, a poet and playwright he came to prominence with the play 'The Quare Fellow', a portrait of prison life in Ireland. Behan became a member of the IRA from an early age and as a consequence spent much of his early 20s behind bars for republican activities. It was there, in Mountjoy Prison Belfast, where he heard the 'Auld Triangle' of the prison bell along the banks of the Royal canal and wrote the lyrics to what became a modern Irish anthem.

Interview with Irish poet Brendan Behan, and a history of his song 'The Auld Triangle'

On Thursday 10th April, Irish President Michael D Higgins' state visit to the UK concluded with an evening's celebration of Irish music and culture at the Royal Albert Hall. The final song was a rousing rendition of Behan's 'Auld Triangle' sung by a host of Irish musicians including Elvis Costello, Glen Hansard, Imelda May, Paul Brady and Conor J O'Brien.

A host of renowned Irish musicians sing a version of Brendan Behan's 'Auld Triangle'

2014 Indian Elections

This week saw the start of India's general election, the largest vote ever held with more than 814 million Indians eligible to vote.

�鶹Լ�� News reports on the start of the Indian Election

As India embarks on this historic election, Arena looks back at the history of the resistance and overthrow of colonial power from the 1991 film 'Stories My Country Told Me'. Indian political scientist and writer, Eqbal Ahmad, travels along the Grand Trunk Road explaining the history and context from which Indian Nationalism arose.

Eqbal Ahmad expains the history and context from which Indian Nationalism arose

ASSASSINATION OF JFK: 50 YEARS ON

2013-11-22T17:07:49+00:00

�鶹Լ�� News reports the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F.Kennedy

Friday November 22^nd marks 50 years to the day since the former President of the United States, John F. Kennedy was assassinated whilst riding an open car in a motorcade during a visit to Dallas, Texas. A ten month investigation concluded that Kennedy was assassinated by sniper Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S Marine who defected to the Soviet Union in 1959. Despite initial support for this conclusion, the past 50 years has seen an increasing number of people believe that the President had been killed as part of a conspiracy.

In 1991, almost 30 years after Kennedy’s assassination, Arena made the film ‘Texas Saturday Night’ presented by Texas Country singer Kinky Friedman. On a quest into the heart of Texas, Kinky searches for what makes the state different from anywhere else in the world. During the course of the film he visits Dealey Plaza, the location of Kennedy’s assassination, on a hunt for a memorial to JFK. The plaza is littered with memorials but Kennedy’s proves hard to find, prompting Kinky to question “maybe it never really happened?....”

Country singer Kinky Friedman gives us a tour of Dealey Plaza in Texas

Arena: Texas Saturday Night 1991, Directed by Anthony Wall, Executive Producer - Nigel Finch