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And Their Ghosts May Be Heard

50m History, Documentary, Biography 1975

More than 200 Australian workers sail to Paraguay in 1893 to set up a utopian society.

In 1893, leaving behind workers’ strikes, a bitter depression and unemployment, a group of more than 200 Australian workers set sail for Paraguay in South America under the charismatic leadership of trade unionist William Lane. Their dream is to set up a utopian society, to be run along communist lines and according to Australian principles of mateship and equality. Through interviews with the descendants of those first settlers, AND THEIR GHOSTS MAY BE HEARD tells the story of that expedition. It also follows the journey of the youngest grandson, Peter Wood, who has returned to live in the land of his ancestors. 

Film Australia.

© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Director

Keith Gow

Language

English

Country

Australia

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