The Abode of Peace.

Year Published: 1950s

Creator: Malayan Film Unit

Format: 16mm

Sound: silent

Description: A: Access CP: Composite Positive AC: Acetate A: 400' 16/8/9.5mm 16mm Silent

Complete Record: This early 1950s black and white travelogue film is about Brunei, known as the Abode of Peace, which is a country located on the northern coasts of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It was shot by the Malayan Film Unit. A map shows the island of Borneo (:42-:59). A shore boat carries passengers from an ocean liner. The British President’s home can be seen. A man in an all white suit gets out of a car (:60-1:34). A container swings past the camera on its way to be loaded on a ship. A group of cargo is tied together with rope (1:35-2:07). The main street through Brunei is very wide and travelled by cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Wood frame buildings are shown under construction (2:08-2:47). The village of Kam Fong is built on stilts over the water. The camera moves along the river, providing images of the floating houses and businesses. A group of children wave to an arriving merchant in a canoe. The boat holds fruits, vegetables, and other materials for sale. Money is exchanged (2:48-3:33). Women weave on hand-looms. An assortment of woven products is shown. A silversmith works with a mallet. Men work on wooden products; a variety of finished wooden products is shown. The process for making brass gongs is shown using fire and crude tools (3:34-5:02). Oil derricks dot the landscape. Oil drillers move a pipe in place and is lowered. A pump has multiple pipes running across the ground. Above ground oil storage tanks are shown (5:03-6:21). The hospital ward is lined with beds. A doctor uses a stethoscope on a patient. A doctor looks through a microscope and uses a pipette (6:22-7:08). Mothers holding babies attend a class on infant care. A doll’s head is washed for practice (7:09-7:26). Children enter a school. A girl student learns needlework. Boy students use hoes to practice gardening (7:27-7:53). British soldiers march in a parade. The crowd watches as the future Sultan passes in a tall and large horse-drawn carriage. The people with him wear patterned clothing and turbans. Omar Ali Saifuddien III is coronated on May 31, 1951 and the crown is placed on his head as he sits on his throne. A soldier pledges allegiance, shaking his curved knife over his head. Prayers are said (7:54-10:41). Earlier scenes are shown again in summary (10:42-11:26).