Field Punishment No.1

What a harrowing time Archibald Baxter had in our glorious New Zealand army. His treatment with the other objectors, was shameful bullying. The most poignant part of this story is the way that these courageous men were called cowards by members of the army, when in fact they were by far the bravest, strongest and most admirable men imaginable. This is a matter of fact telling of the story of Archibald Baxter, well acted and paced perfectly. The movement through time which occurs throughout the film, is effective, if a little confusing at the beginning. This would be a good reference point for secondary students, to discuss and debate a range of ideas such as compulsory conscription, the cost of war in financial and human terms, and the ugliness of war.