THE STAR AND THE SAND [Main Title]

The story of the camps set up in the Sinai Desert in January 1944 to accommodate Yugoslav refugees from the Nazi counter-offensive against Tito.

Film tells of the original hardships faced by refugees (alien landscape, sandstorms, barely minimal supplies etc) but shows how they eventually succeeded in building a largely self-governing community. The system of administration, UNRRA commandants with camp committees, is explained; a long sequence shows the impressive workshops set up by refugees who had only a few tools and scrap to work from (a carpenter's home-made lathe, a blacksmith, cobblers, etc); schools for children and adults, hospital facilities and special care for orphans; camp newspaper and recreational life (games, traditional singing and dancing etc). Commentary throughout commends the spirit of the people (eg by citing the war record of a 13 year old boy) and their determination to build a better Yugoslavia post-war, reminding the audience that the whole world must be rebuilt to make the sacrifices worth while.

35mm