Peter Davis, 1933 - 2025 скачать в хорошем качестве

Peter Davis, 1933 - 2025

Peter Davis spent a lifetime telling the stories of others as a filmmaker, author, photographer, and archivist. An extremely well-read autodidact, he had a Shakespeare quote or a pun for every occasion. He spoke several languages, but in all of them he chose his words carefully—he was most comfortable communicating in writing or with a camera. He was a world traveler who knew how to draw a story out of anyone, and he made lasting connections everywhere he went, whether with the post office clerk or world leaders. Back home, unassuming, thrifty, and resourceful, he could often be found scrumping for fruit and adding to his truly impressive collection of letters to the editor. Even into his 70s he was impossible to keep pace with—because the worst sin was to waste time—returning from errands with a rucksack full of discarded treasure. He was in deed, and in name, Autolycus from The Winter's Tale: "A Snapper-up of Unconsidered Trifles." He was a life-long preserver of "out-takes," resurrecting the world's B-roll material in finds, food and film. He appreciated pie for breakfast and anything handmade. He believed most rules didn't apply to him, little was more important than voting, and it's worthwhile to ask anyone for anything—sometimes they say "Sure." His primary focus was always the body of work he meant to leave behind him, and he kept at it until his last days. Peter studied English Literature at Oxford University, with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis as professors, before emigrating to Sweden and then North America. His early career included positions as scriptwriter, camera operator, director and producer for the public broadcasters in Canada, USA, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, as well as for the UN. He founded Villon Films in 1970 and produced dozens of socio-political documentary films, telling stories that covered a wide range of topics, from history, biography, culture, and government, to ecology, health and science. Throughout his career he was arrested and jailed for shining light on oppression and injustice. In the 1980's, after a visit to South Africa on a project with CARE, he became deeply involved in the anti-apartheid movement. He believed the struggle was above all a propaganda battle and felt a strong sense of responsibility to tell a story on behalf of a people who were being silenced. In recent years he has received messages from Black South Africans saying his films are the only records they have of parts of their history. His last decades include accounts of the global fight against HIV and for universal access to HIV medicines, and a biography of David Suzuki. Some of his work is housed in the Peter Davis Collection at Indiana University's Black Film Center & Archive. His legacy also includes a substantial collection of still photography as well as some books. Peter was born in Bethnal Green, London on November 12, 1933, delivered at home by his Nan, a midwife (she delivered 12,000 babies over her career), who helped raise him. During World War 2, he accompanied his father, an Air Raid Warden, to check the neighbourhood for casualties and victims after Blitz bombings. He was then evacuated to live in the countryside for the rest of the war. He served with the British Army Rifle Brigade from 1952-1954. He moved to the United States in 1967 and there married Joy Marguerite (née Searl) in 1969. They raised two daughters, Meka Zieger and Emma Luna Davis. He loved all his progeny in books and rhymes, shared his knowledge with them generously, and celebrated their accomplishments proudly. He and Joy moved to Vancouver in 1993. Peter died peacefully in his bed at home, as he wished, at the age of 92. He will be deeply missed by Joy, Meka (Jon) and Emma (Avram), his grandchildren (Abigail, Rebekah, Sarah, Peter, Finnegan and Asher), several nieces and nephews, and the many friends and community members he kept careful contact with in Mount Pleasant and around the world.