Building Bridges: Bill Youren's Vision of Peace

AroView: This documentary is a must-see for New Zealand political history buffs and enquiring minds like that of its extraordinary subject – Bill Youren, a lawyer-turned-wealthy-farmer whose fervent socialist views made him a black sheep among his peers.

His peace-seeking and enterprising spirit took him to China three times in the 1950s where he became a clear-eyed witness to the astonishing social changes under Maoism. It’s an enlightening history lesson about both countries from a unique personal perspective, enriched by a wealth of 8mm footage shot by Youren himself.

“A fascinating account of a man who firmly supported many of the largest social movements in the twentieth century… Director John Chrisstoffels has compiled a gentle portrait of an ordinary man capturing extraordinary things. ~Brannavan Gnanalingam, NZIFF