South

The story of the Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in his ill-fated trip of 1914 has become the stuff of heroic legend. Their ship having sailed south breaks in the ice and Shackleton and a crew of the 5 strongest ( including Kerryman Tom Crean) take to a 20 foot lifeboat embarking on a hazardous 800 miles to South Georgia Island to mount a rescue mission. The other 22 men of the crew wait on Elephant Island. One of the original crew members was photographer and filmmaker Frank Hurley who came equipped with still and movie cameras. Funds for the expedition had in fact been raised on the promise of revenues from the film. When the ship was crushed by pack ice Hurley grabbed his undamaged glass negatives from the rising ice water. In 1919 Shackleton showed Hurley’s completed film, including stills from the rescued glass negatives, in fund raising lectures. 75 years later the British Film Institute restored it and this film record allows us to see an epic struggle for survival brought to life. South will be accompanied by original piano score performed by Phill Collins. Location: Christ Church Cathedral Time: 7pm – Date(s): 01/11/2008 – 01/11/2008
Video Rating: 5 / 5

LIFE STORIES interview with 88 year old South African JHS in 1992. He died in 1999 aged 94. Attorney at law, father, husband, golfer, world traveller and raconteur. In this clip he talks about travelling the world, defending black South Africans, a lifelong association with the Bantu Church of Christ, founding Wedgewood Golf Club & bowls. Jacob Hyman Spilkin was born in Latvia on 20th September 1904. He came to South Africa with his family at the age of 8 in 1912 and lived in Port Elizabeth until he died on 24 June 1999, aged 94. He was married to Bess Spilkin (nee Burger) for over 60 years. They had three children: Norman (who died aged 11), Sydney and Irma who are both now in their 70’s. Jacob Spilkin was an extraordinary man and was loved by all. His tombstone inscription reads ‘ A brilliant student of the law. A man of immense strength and virtue’. This six part interview was filmed on an SVHS camera in October 1992 by his grand-daughter Lisa Chait and filmmaker Sean O’Sullivan. To find out more about the LIFE STORIES SERIES and how you can have a loved one or yourself interviewed go to www.lifestories.co.za