HANDMAIDENS AND BATTLEAXES - new upgraded file of documentary classic
11 December 2023
A major documentary classic from 1989, HANDMAIDENS AND BATTLEAXES offers a passionate global history of nursing, using Australia as a case study but with comparative input from American and British counterparts. It highlights the complex social, political and professional challenges faced by nurses today.
Throughout history, the perception of nurses has ranged from wise women to witches, sots to ministering angels, handmaidens to battleaxes. Over centuries, the professional role of the nurse has changed dramatically. Originally the nurse held an independent, curative position in healing the sick. Most of this responsibility was progressively displaced, and for too long in the modern era, nurses were locked into supportive and secondary roles in the health professions.
HANDMAIDENS AND BATTLEAXES uses rare archival footage, dramatic re-enactments, personal interviews and photographic stills collected from nursing colleges from three continents. These elements successfully combine to give insight into the realities of the nursing profession that are still relevant today, more than three decades after the film was made.
The film won the AFI award for best Australian documentary in 1990, and was featured in a number of international film festivals.
Produced and directed by ROSALIND GILLESPIE RN
Cinematography – LAURIE McINNES
Sound Recordist – BRONWYN MURPHY
Editor – DIANA PRIEST
Art and Graphics – LEE WHITMORE
Music composed by CATHERINE FINNIS, JOHN GRAY and CAIX MEREDITH
NOW AVAILABLE on DVD and on Vimeo-on-Demand.
See the film's page in the Ronin catalogue for details and orders: www.roninfilms.com.au/video/845/20/585.html