Last time we went through a long public information film, we saw children being run over by trains in various ways. (From January 2017) This was a way to make sure that people never ever even breathe near a train again. Now we need children to stay away from farms that brings us to our topic today.
Our 27 minute film was released in 1977 and is called "Apaches". It was produced by Graphic Films (which is a great name) and Central Of Information. So now we look at this film meant to make sure to tell you that farms don't play.
Let's take a look at the 1977 public information film called "Apaches".
It starts with dramatic intros like you are about to watch some cowboys fight some Indians in a film from 1954. It's narrated by a child while we see some children playing as Apaches hence the title.
Now we need to introduce the kids in this film.
First there's Kim , she's eight , Sharon she's 9, Michael , he's daft because Apaches didn't wear red (guess his age doesn't matter) and our narrator who is telling us this information is named Danny, there's also Tom and Robert, there's no more information about them. ( I see how Danny feels about them)
pictured: Kim, Sharon, Michael, Danny,Tom and Robert
Danny says that his mom and dad are getting ready for a party as it cuts to a scene with a table being clothed. Now the kids are at farm still playing their game. There's a tractor doing farm stuff. The children decide to charge the tractor that's pulling a trailer because reasons. The farmer actually plays with them by "shooting" at them while they shoot. Kim was standing on the trailer jumping when she falls and gets crushed by the big wheel and the shot changes to a school where Kim's coat hook is without a coat while a man takes her name off the wall near the hook.
Also the names might be in first name order, not surname , so interesting.
Danny talks about his mom and dad prepping for the party while the other remaining kids are talking in a barn. Danny gets bored of this and they all go to play as soon as they figure out what to do. They settle on playing kick the can. There's a lot of running around the farm while the children are trying to hide from being tagged by Danny. Tom runs and falls into a pit called a slurry pit, which is fit with animal waste and other organic material and is quite liquid. He calls for help but sadly drowns. The school shot is used again this time a desk being cleaned out the belongings being put into a bag with Tom's name on it.
The party is mentioned again and Danny talks about how adult parties are boring as we see a table being made with flat ware. The children are playing at the farm again , though now there are four. Sharon even mentions that there are only four them making their game of Calvary and Indians hard. The farmer even play shoots back at them again as they "shoot" at his tractor. (alright then) After the "Apaches" take their win they decide to celebrate. In a barn there's a bottle that's unmarked but they are at least smart to be wary of it as it might be poison. Sharon says they should mime it. So they fake a drink except Sharon whom accidentally swallows it bit spits out some. Sharon starts feeling strange as she goes home and spends the night in pain. (The screams are harrowing)The next shot is a bedroom being cleaned and emptied.
Yeah don't do that?
Back to the party thing, Danny wonders why adults drink. Back at the farm, the 3 remaining children play again. Michael almost gets run over but, this film isn't going to repeat a run over. (Does make you think he will be though) They are pretending to be "Starsky and Hutch" Michael and Robert pretend to be the duo as they are chasing Danny. When Michael jumps from behind a metal gate that was on a wall it falls on Robert. (The film shows his body while bleeding instead of implying it like the last few) The film cuts back to the party as guests start showing up.
Starskey and Hutch remake is weird man
There are now two children left, Michael and Danny. They play another game as the Apaches. Danny decides to jump on a tractor to fake drive it while the farmer says "be careful" he accidentally hits the parking brake and the machine moves he screams for help it falls off a cliff and it cuts back to a woman in a room while a man walks in. To find out that this party is not a party but funeral for Danny. Michael of the six is the only one left as he's at the funeral. Danny narrates that it's a nice party that's where we find out that Michael is his cousin. The film ends with names of children who were killed in farm accidents.
more after the jump
The ending is a twist where we don't know that this party Danny keeps talking about was actually his funeral. So the point of this film was to tell children who live near rural areas of the UK that farms aren't places to play. They went with 5 different hazards on farms and went heavy-handed by killing the children. As a watch it's uncomfortable to watch , probably on purpose, I think Sharon's screams made me curl more than anything.
Now if you punch some holes in the narrative like maybe the farmers should have shoo-ed the children off their farm instead of playing with them I mean, they have children dying on their farm maybe they should have shooed them away. Also maybe the parents should have been more like after Kim died, "Hey Kids you are not allowed to play on that farm anymore". Then again we wouldn't have had this film then, if that logic was applied. I think this was a way to show how children ,like at the end with the names and how they died , can fall in to dangers at a farm and maybe should stay away.
Also a note for really anywhere, don't drink unlabeled liquid even if you are trying to mime it, it's just for the best that everyone follows that rule.
Now I am going to use the questions I use during my "Those PSA segment episodes" for this,.
Was it a good PSA? I mean does it make me not want run through a farm and scare everyone off running through a farm? Then sure. I think it was filmed and honestly think it does a good job at depicting the dangers that it wants to warn it's intended audience about.
Does it get its message across? Yes It does it. If its message is don't be playing around on farms then yes it does.
That's our look. I think me might step back from P.I.F's again for a little while tune in next in next item after we run away from this farm staring at us.
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