NFB Collection
Harder Than It Looks
198628 min 10 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: Tina Viljoen
Production: Barrie Howells
Script: Gwynne DyerTina Viljoen
A penetrating look at how difficult it is for the northern countries--Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark--to remain neutral, caught as they are between the two superpowers. All but Canada were neutral before World War II. Today, only Sweden has not joined a military alliance, but with American and Soviet military forces in the northern seas, even its lone neutrality is at risk. Archival footage from the two world wars, animated maps, and interviews illuminate the historical shaping of each country's stance on neutrality and approach to its own defense, and how these positions work for and against the countries. The film's thesis is that a non-aligned north is the key to separating the superpowers and attaining world peace.
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Subject categories
- Foreign Countries > International PerspectivesScandinavia
- History - Canada - 1920-1945 > International Relations
- Politics and Government - Canada > International Relations
- History - Canada - 1946-Present > International Relations and the Cold War
- War, Conflict and Peace > Military AlliancesPeace and Peacekeeping
- National Security and Defence > Military Alliances and NATO
Credits
- director
- Tina Viljoen
- producer
- Barrie Howells
- executive producer
- Barrie Howells
- script
- Gwynne Dyer
- Tina Viljoen
- cinematography
- Kent Nason
- Barry Perles
- Savas Kalogeras
- sound
- Jean-Guy Normandin
- Jacques Drouin
- editing
- Stephan Steinhouse
- sound editing
- Stephan Steinhouse
- Julian Olson
- animation
- Joan Churchill
- John Weldon
- narrator
- Gwynne Dyer