Essay: Simon Nasht’s documentary Frank Hurley – The Man Who Made History

Discoveries unavoidably evoke fresh new understandings and perspectives which can consequently challenge and renew our own values. Rediscovering and experiencing something for the first time that has been lost or forgotten can transform opinions and perspectives, which can lead to a fresh and intensely meaningful rediscovery. This concept is evident in Simon Nasht’s documentary Frank Hurley-The Man Who Made History in which the documentary explores the life of an Australian photographer and the criticism’s he faced. The process of discovery can also be motivated by a deliberate plan or induced by a curiosity which Nam Le’s ‘Love and Honour’ distinctly shows throughout his short story. Le’s ‘Love and Honour’ is Nam’s attempt at finding meaning in the way his father raised him, through the stories mentioned referring to the unfortunate experiences in Vietnam. These catalysts of discovery can lead to far-reaching ramifications and may differ for individuals in relation to their personal and cultural significance.
Discoveries allow individuals to condemn themselves and their surroundings in new ways. The title itself, Frank Hurley-The Man Who Made History, advocates two entwined themes of perspective. Hurley’s experiences throughout his trips reshaped the audience’s understanding of how he would observe and interpret his photographs, “Is he a giant of photography or just a conjurer with a camera”. The use of a rhetorical question forces the viewers to reassess their outlooks on Frank Hurley as his hidden manipulations are brought to light. This stimulates new ideas and perceptions such as disbelief against Hurley leading his viewers to become weary and forcing them to reevaluate their new understandings of his “grand illusion”.
Hurley’s several expeditions to Antarctica urged him to become consumed with desire to take more photographs so he decided to capture images of nature and men at war. An opening montage of his images and films demands the audience to engage in the process of discovering, as his innovations are highlighted. “Hurley photographed the Nation as he wished it to be, not as it really was”, he exploited his images by merging them together to develop the representation he wanted the world to see. In Simon Nasht’s documentary, it reveals to the audience a quote Hurley had written on the back of one his photographs, “near enough is not good enough”, here the audience clearly unearths Hurley’s true character on how precise he was with his images.
In addition, Nam Le’s ‘Love and Honour’ encompasses historical discoveries such as uncovering a family members past. These discoveries can be sudden and are able transform old opinions and perspectives. This concept of unravelling history provides a quintessential need of curiosity. “And it occurred to me then how it took hours, sometimes days, for the surface of a river to freeze over-to hold in its skin a perfect and crystalline world-and how that world could be shattered by a small stone dropped like a single syllable”. This description acts as a metaphor, ‘frozen over ice’ representing Nam’s judgements that has been built over time, based upon the negligence of his father. ‘Shattered by a small stone dropped like a single syllable’, representing the knowledge Nam received through the discussion he had with his father, shattering his previous misconception of his father’s character.
Moreover, discoveries can be confronting. Le’s revelation of his father’s past upon the human psyche are further explored through self-discovery. “But I hadn’t known”, this shows that based upon preconceived ideas we as humans develop and produce our own judgments without always having knowledge of the full background story or history. Throughout the beginning of the story, Nam’s frame of mind towards his father had a very negative tone. It forced readers to have sympathy for Nam as his dad didn’t treat him like a son but Nam’s ignorance towards his father might have contributed to the reason him and his father weren’t very good at communicating. Nam’s new understanding of the way his father treated him when he was younger has transformed the way he now observes things and has impacted his personal morals.
The constant referring back to the past can constantly re-evaluate ones perceptions depending on their historical, cultural and social surroundings and values. An analysis of Frank Hurley and Love and Honor reveal how preconceived beliefs and ideas due to lack of apprehension can transform someone’s attitude which are able to lead to new possibilities and continue to challenge as well as be reassessed over time.