On June 10, 1942, Nazi troops razed the Czech village of Lidice. All of the men over the age of 16 were shot, totalling 192; the women were sent to concentration camps; children were selected for “Germanisation”. It was a horror almost beyond comprehension.
The making of a UK propaganda film about the massacre began within weeks of the atrocity. London’s Ministry of Information sent crews to CwmgĂŻedd in the Upper Swansea Valley, and a recreation of the events was staged using amateur local actors. The result, 1943’s The Silent Village, is an intriguing piece of footage which simultaneously commemorates an atrocity in mainland Europe and life in the Welsh Valleys at the time.
Turner House, Penarth, is currently exhibiting the Humphrey Jennings-directed film, alongside new works from artists Peter Finnemore and Paolo Ventura and writer Rachel Trezise. These works speak to The Silent Village and its legacy, forming a compelling counterpart to the original piece.
On Wednesday, February 10, the venue – in tandem with the national development agency for photography and lens-based media in Wales, Ffotogallery – is hosting an evening of talks, discussion and refreshments beginning at 6.30pm. University of Glamorgan academic Daryl Perrins will be giving a lecture on the film’s position within the propaganda film genre, providing a refreshing contemporary perspective on its continuing significance.
Tickets for this event are free. To book a place, contact Turner House on 029 2070 8870 or at [email protected].
The Silent Village exhibition is at Turner House until Saturday, February 27.