I Wasn't Scared

A brother and sister go over a rusty fence in search of fishing. They're not biting. However, they do find why the area is posted for people not to enter: a small, torpedo-shaped bomb from when it was an artillery-testing ground. When the boy unscrews a nut. Smoke comes out. They flee. But the boy has left his fishing rod. He goes back, while the girl goes in search of adult help.

British comedian David Mitchell has a lovely bit about how he was afraid to look at the sun when he was a child, but walked outside with his eyes downcast. All those things we are told not to do: don't eat before swimming, don't cross a highway, and so forth.... there are two types of children: the naturally cautious, and the unheeding. All these warnings, Mitchell points out, are calibrated for the unheeding. He was never going to tear across a six-lane high; just the existence of a highway in his count made him want to stay home.

And still the unheeding go on their merry way. Until something goes wrong.

This film is a Department of National Defence safety film that aired in classrooms all over Canada in the 1970s. The film is about two boys who venture into a military training area, find some unexploded ordnance, and nearly get blown up. If it were not for the fast reaction of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, the ending would not have been as happy. It was made in CFB Borden in the mid-70s and most of the actors/actresses were taken from the community. The main child actor was in my circle of friends.

The lessons taught in this film are real and well portrayed, as tragically, more than once, someone has been injured by venturing into the training area.

The film is a safety awareness film, not likely one to rent for a good evening of TV viewing.