Jun 14 (TRNGL) - Over the Sea and Near Away: Sponsored by the Crusader Shipping Company, this 1966 National Film Unit production joins one of the firm's ships as it transports New Zealand products from Auckland to Asia — home to “one quarter of the human race, 900 million customers”.
As milk powder, wool, mutton, apples, cheese and deer antlers are delivered to ports in the Philippines, China, Japan, and Hong Kong, director Ron Bowie observes cultural difference and economic opportunity; and a “westernising” Orient is beautifully captured by Kell Fowler. The NFU crew were rare foreign observers in Chairman Mao’s China.