MDFF 2021 - Nanna Power: The Story of the Gloucester Knitting Nannas
What could cause a great grandmother to lock herself to a fence?
The Gloucester Knitting Nannas formed during the regional New South Wales town’s fight against AGL, which made national headlines.
'When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty' is the motivation behind four grandmothers who protest against gas and greed in Australia.
Interview with Directors Anne Keen, Pete White
Watch Nanna Power: The Story of the Gloucester Knitting Nannas here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
ANNE KEEN: I found the group of women involved in the Gloucester Knitting Nannas empowering and inspiring. I wanted to know why they did what they did and believed that the story of these older women advocating for social justice was an important one to tell.
PETE WHITE: Firstly it was to see if Anne and I could work together making a film without killing each other. (We can.) Secondly, I personally love the idea that a great granny can get so passionate and upset about the destruction of her local area by corporate giants that she chains herself to a bloody gate to stop the trucks! Who does that! I wish I had the guts to. I don’t. But they do. And we wanted to tell their story.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
ANNE KEEN: When you think of protesters - people who chain themselves to fences for hours upon hours - do you imagine them to be grandmothers or great grandmothers? The story of these women may change the way you think about activism. These are educated women putting their lives on the line for social justice. They are breaking down the stereotypes of who people believe environmental activists to be.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
ANNE KEEN: This film is about protecting the planet and how far people are willing to go to secure a healthy planet for the future. It’s about the strength of women and their desire to ensure there is a planet for future generations.
PETE WHITE: I suppose in the end it's about the planet and what a shit job we are doing in taking care of it. In Australia’s case, the first Australians lived here for tens of thousands of years and hardly left a mark on the joint. In just 200 odd years the ugly scars of the European settlement are plain for the eye to see.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
ANNE KEEN: The story that I set out to tell - well, I mean, the story that I thought I was going to tell evolved as I got to know the women. In my mind, I believe they were part of the flower power generation that protested through the 60s and 70s, but that wasn’t the case at all. Some only started protesting as a senior.
PETE WHITE: I think the personalities of our hero nannas really came into focus as I was editing the film. Before that, it is really just questions on a page. But when you see how passionate, and bloody funny these gals are, it makes my job a bit easier to make it engaging to watch.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
ANNE KEEN: It has been well received with people really loving our Nannas
PETE WHITE: Really positive so far. Who doesn’t love a pissed off Nanna!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
ANNE KEEN: No. I reiterate what Pete said!
PETE WHITE: Not really. I think both Anne and I believed in their cause from the start. I don’t think we would have made it otherwise.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
ANNE KEEN: It's a really good story of amazing, strong women that more people need to see. You're never too old or part of the wrong demographic to make change happen.
PETE WHITE: On a purely selfish note, Anne and I would simply love to keep making documentaries. As they say in sport, you are only as good as your last game, so we are hoping people will like what they see in Nanna Power and ask us to make another. But more importantly, I think this film shows that the passion and commitment to keep our planet clean and safe never wavers with age. In fact, with these women, it is strong and truly alive. They are amazing.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
ANNE KEEN: Buyers, distributors and journalists.
PETE WHITE: Journos and distributors I suppose. Because climate change is a global issue. It’s not going away. The more stories people hear, the more everyone takes it seriously and gets involved, the more pressure gets put on leaders and who knows, we may still be able to leave something of this planet to our grandkids to inherit that's not totally toxic.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
ANNE KEEN: It would be good to help raise awareness of people power and how standing up for what you believe in can have an impact. It would also be good to inspire other women, of all ages, to feel empowered and able to act on things they feel are important.
PETE WHITE: Just for people to think about the health of our planet. From memory one of the nannas says that if they can change just one person's mind, or at least challenge their point of view, they are one small step closer to saving the planet. Everybody has to do their bit. They are certainly doing theirs.
Also, just a reminder that when you reach the back end of your time on this planet, you can still have a voice, still have passion, and still make a difference.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
ANNE KEEN: What could cause a great grandmother to lock herself to a fence?
PETE WHITE: Don’t leave it up to your nanna to fix the fucked state of this planet. Get off your arse and do something.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are in the post production stage of a new doco about a local stockman.
Interview: August 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Nanna Power: The Story of the Gloucester Knitting Nannas
Length:
20:29
Writer/Director/Producer
ANNE KEEN
Anne Keen is a journalist working for Australian Community Media, a writer working on publishing her first novel, and a documentarian. Anne recently reconnected with her passion for visual storytelling. Her first documentary and solo project, Undermining a Community was selected for the 2020 Far South Film Festival. Later that year, she co-founded Treechange Films with Pete White which completed its first documentary in January 2021, Nanna Power: The story of the Gloucester Knitting Nannas.
Key cast:
Gloucester Knitting Nannas are: Carol Bennett, Elizabeth Bartlett, Kate Fry and Pippa Robinson
Looking for:
distributors, buyers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TreechangeFilms
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/treechange_films/
Hashtags used:
#treechangefilms #knittingnannas #nannapower
More info:
Where can I watch it now?
Far South Film Festival - The Picture Show Man Cinema, Merimbula, NSW Australia Saturday, August 21
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival - Cinema Nova, Carlton, VIC Australia Tuesday September 14 (COVID delayed - should have been July 31)