Rhydaman Popeth ar Ffilm

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-There, at my feet, is the town where

-I was born, and I've come home.

-The film David was made

-for the 1951 Festival of Britain...

-..to celebrate Britain's

-continuation after WW2.

-The featured films celebrated

-an aspect of British culture.

-This was the film about Wales.

-The film is a drama-documentary.

-Remarkably, David

-is not portrayed by an actor...

-..but by David Griffiths himself.

-He recreates his life for us, as

-a school caretaker, former miner...

-..and a bard,

-known locally as Amanwy.

-Caradog agrees with me.

-Do you sell many?

-They were very popular.

-I still sell the occasional copy.

-It records

-a period in Ammanford's history.

-That's why I'm here.

-I hope our film bridges the years

-between David and Ammanford today.

-David chronicles Amanwy's life.

-His brother, Jim Griffiths, was the

-first Secretary of State for Wales.

-Amanwy and Jim Griffiths

-were two brothers, and two miners.

-But while Jim left home

-to find success...

-..Amanwy stayed

-in the Ammanford area.

-He went down the mine aged twelve.

-When the dust became

-too much for him...

-..he found work as

-the local grammar school caretaker.

-He inspired generations of children.

-You're the master!

-You're the master!

-

-Oh, no no! I'm not the headmaster.

-I'm the caretaker, my boy. See?

-But I'll be keeping an eye on you!

-The school Amanwy once cleaned

-is a central location in the film.

-It's barely changed in places.

-There was a great deal of emphasis

-on education in those days.

-The film reflects this.

-Well done, Ivor.

-Education was an escape

-from the pit's clutches.

-Now the pits have gone, is education

-still the ticket out of the valley?

-I showed the film to the sixth form.

-I hoped they'd be

-inspired to help us...

-..to make a new film

-based on the original themes.

-Dafydd Rhys is a caretaker.

-His brother is

-a Member of Parliament in London.

-We were all miners together...

-..and I hope

-we haven't changed too much.

-This is an interesting idea

-in the film.

-What is the definition

-of success and failure?

-Yeah.

-He came second in the Eisteddfod.

-Speaking from experience,

-that isn't easy!

-He says, "I failed.

-We can't all be successful."

-I failed. You'll pass!

-Elsewhere, he says he wanted his

-son to succeed where he had failed.

-There were new opportunities

-for the young men in Wales.

-I wanted him

-to succeed where I had failed.

-How does that strike you?

-It's not fair

-that he thinks he's failed.

-His success was

-different from his brother's.

-His brother moved out of the area.

-The success of his life

-was helping people.

-How is Gwilym? Does he like Cardiff?

-Oh, he's doing well! We always

-hoped he'd go to the university.

-I was very glad

-he won that scholarship.

-Without it, I'm afraid

-we couldn't have sent him.

-What are your plans

-after leaving school?

-University.

-Where?

-Where?

-

-London, hopefully.

-Cardiff or London. It depends.

-Cardiff or London. It depends.

-

-London.

-Bath.

-Cardiff. I want to stay in Wales.

-I think I can speak for all of us...

-..and say

-we've had a great time here.

-We want to find jobs.

-The kind of jobs we want

-aren't found in Ammanford.

-Perhaps things will have changed

-in ten years' time.

-If your career

-led you back to this area...

-..would you feel

-that somehow you hadn't succeeded?

-It could be a dream job,

-but it would be back here.

-I'd see it as a failure,

-to be perfectly honest.

-I'd be disappointed if I stayed

-here. I want to see the world.

-No disrespect to those

-who've returned, it's their choice.

-We need to see what's out there

-before deciding where we want to be.

-Formal education

-isn't the only way to get ahead.

-I wanted our film to reflect this

-and to include different viewpoints.

-After visiting the school, I

-went to the Streets Youth Project...

-..in Ammanford.

-They come to the Streets Project

-because they want to.

-They want more out of life.

-They'd like to improve themselves

-as much as possible.

-Some feel they're

-not doing that well in school.

-We try to help them...

-..to realize they're doing better

-than they think.

-Would the film interest them?

-We showed it in the school.

-Could we screen it here?

-I think they'd be interested.

-Come along, boy! Don't be scared.

-What do you think?

-..I think he doesn't realize...

-..that his life is dedicated

-to the success of other people.

-He's helping other people

-to get where they are...

-..but he doesn't realize that.

-It's interesting

-that some of the young people...

-..noticed he's the silent hero.

-I like the fact it puts into film

-that no matter where you're from...

-..you can always succeed as well.

-People from a small town going off.

-Shane Williams did it.

-The best winger in the world.

-John Cale.

-It's very promising

-for our generation.

-I want to stay in Ammanford. My

-family stayed, and I want to, too.

-My brother wants to move away,

-and I don't know why.

-I want to be recognized.

-Do you want to be famous?

-Do you want to be famous?

-

-No, not famous... well, yeah.

-I'd like to act, things like that.

-It depends how you define success.

-That's what we try to teach

-the young people.

-It's success on a personal level.

-It can be achieved

-through living in Ammanford.

-You can go and come back, or stay.

-You have the option.

-In 1951, David was screened

-22 times in this town hall.

-Where better to screen a new film

-inspired by the original?

-It's lovely.

-Yeah, it's alright.

-It's a nice place to work.

-I'd like to discuss the possibility

-of screening our new film...

-..alongside the old film.

-Can I have a look around?

-Can I have a look around?

-

-No problem.

-I'll come by on my way out. Thanks.

-Thanks very much.

-I had now met

-two lots of young people.

-The new film began to take shape.

-The first step

-was going back to school.

-We looked at David

-when I was last here.

-I wasn't sure

-what direction to take.

-I'd like to compare the situation

-of someone who decided to stay...

-..with your experiences

-as you prepare for the future.

-You've set your sights

-on further education.

-I gave Mererid,

-Tom and Sara the camera.

-It was time to choose

-someone from the Streets project.

-Juliana created quite an impression.

-The young leader decided against

-university to live and work at home.

-It's quite simple.

-It's easier than mine!

-Juxtaposing her experiences

-alongside the school leavers...

-..would provide

-the ideal basis for our film.

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-A week after distributing

-the cameras in Ammanford...

-..I returned for an update -

-and, first, it was Tom's work.

-OK, then.

-This is where I live in Ammanford.

-I live on a site called Gwynfryn.

-I was going to Carmarthenshire

-College in Llanelli...

-..to practise with one of my bands.

-One of your bands?

-One of your bands?

-

-I'm in two bands.

-Rock 'n' roll!

-What's happening here?

-There wasn't enough room in the van.

-We had to borrow a trailer.

-He couldn't find the key to go in!

-We broke into the garage

-to get the trailer.

-That shows us gaining entry!

-That shows us gaining entry!

-

-LAUGHTER

-We've had permission to do this!

-This is in night vision

-after the gig.

-I'm describing the gig.

-We've just finished in the venue.

-It was absolutely brilliant.

-A crazy crowd.

-That's success to me,

-playing gigs in different places.

-Have you done any filming?

-We'll film sixth-formers

-tomorrow during our free lessons...

-..to ask their opinion.

-We're going out tomorrow night, too.

-We'll talk to them and my parents.

-Tom and his friends dream of flying

-the nest to spread their wings.

-Juliana's story

-is more like Amanwy's own.

-She's moved on

-while staying locally.

-I met up with her at work in

-the local Communities First offices.

-How did you get on with the camera?

-Well, I'm rather camera-shy.

-I haven't filmed myself much.

-I'm not used to talking

-about my everyday life.

-Juliana did mention the uncertainty

-surrounding her work.

-During March...

-..it seemed that Communities First

-wouldn't be here much longer.

-Unfortunately, the money was being

-withdrawn from the area.

-I felt sad, not just for our jobs...

-..but because

-the area would lose out.

-But on the eleventh hour...

-..the Assembly said

-we could apply for funding.

-We had money for a year.

-I hope to carry on our good work.

-Fingers crossed!

-I filmed local youngsters.

-Will you move away to work

-and maybe live outside Wales?

-Yes, so that my name

-goes all over the place.

-I want everyone to hear about me!

-What do you think of the area?

-I'd like to stay,

-but something tells me I'll leave.

-Juliana's film was coming along.

-I resumed my quest for Amanwy.

-Hello!

-I phoned earlier.

-We've found the volume.

-I'll show you.

-This is the volume, O Lwch Y Lofa.

-It's a volume

-by six Carmarthenshire miners.

-Gomer Roberts has won a scholarship,

-and he wants money for his lodgings.

-Here, Amanwy uses his poetic talent

-to help a colleague.

-While recovering from injuries

-sustained in a pit accident...

-..Amanwy edited

-a poetry anthology entitled...

-..O Lwch Y Lofa.

-I worked on the book...

-..and when it was printed they

-sent the first copy up on a tram...

-..as a kind of symbol.

-I came out of hospital, and

-helped to sell it from door to door.

-That way, we made ninety pounds.

-With it, Gomer Roberts

-was able to go to college.

-Is this his personal copy?

-Is this his personal copy?

-

-Possibly.

-He's left his mark in the library!

-Having found a poetry volume by

-Amanwy I met up with Tom once again.

-I had a suggestion to make.

-I want Amanwy to be Bernie Taupin

-to your Elton John.

-OK!

-The idea was for Tom

-to compose music for the film...

-..inspired by Amanwy's words.

-There are a lot of nice lines.

-Perhaps you could pick these out.

-In the meantime...

-..in another part of school,

-the girls filmed their contribution.

-Go away, go away!

-Where are you going?

-I'm in the sixth-form room

-with friends.

-Do you view going to Cardiff

-as a success or a failure?

-I think I've succeeded.

-It's a capital city!

-I'd like to go to England.

-But I'm a home bird.

-Adam's studying Engineering,

-I'm doing Law.

-Job prospects centre around England.

-We have to leave to earn good money

-and get the best jobs.

-Are you going to university, Liam?

-Are you going to university, Liam?

-

-No.

-What are your plans?

-A carpentry apprenticeship...

-..then, I'll join the Police Force

-when I'm 21.

-Will you stay local or move away?

-I'll stay in this area.

-I'll probably return,

-but not until I finish my course.

-Many of Tom's friends

-had mapped out their futures.

-Tom revealed

-his doubts about college.

-I don't want to leave

-with thirty grand of debt.

-That worries me.

-I don't want to spend the first

-ten years paying it off.

-This gave the project

-a different perspective.

-Was Tom getting more like Juliana?

-I left school

-after the lower sixth.

-I wanted to work.

-I didn't want to leave

-to go to university.

-I always wanted to come back.

-I had the choice to work here,

-and get the education I wanted.

-I knew that's what I wanted to do.

-People are thinking about

-moving away to get the education.

-They hear there's nothing here.

-I don't think that's true.

-It's knowing

-what to do with the options.

-To be honest, it was a bit random.

-I needed a band.

-They needed a singer and writer,

-and it came together.

-The situation

-became more complicated for Tom.

-His band, Nevarro,

-won the Battle of the Bands.

-Yeah, we won it last week, on

-the 29th of April on Radio Cymru.

-Tom was enjoying the celeb life.

-Why choose university

-when you're a success?

-I wouldn't say that.

-Don't quote me on that!

-If things were changing for Tom...

-..Juliana was at a crossroads, too.

-I'm considering going back to study

-part-time in Trinity College.

-It would take four years, part-time,

-to get my degree.

-It opens up more options for me.

-Whether university

-or a singing career beckoned...

-..one thing was certain.

-I have to move away

-to start a new life.

-It's hard because I'll be

-leaving my family behind.

-There's always the phone.

-As they say...

-..we tend to lose touch

-with our school friends.

-We'll have different friends

-as adults.

-It's a chance I've got to take.

-A few weeks later, Tom had composed

-the music, the film had been edited.

-The screening took place.

-We're still living with this idea

-that without education...

-..even better if you've

-moved away to get education...

-..you haven't succeeded.

-Making the film

-has challenged the idea.

-James...

-..lights please.

-When Elin has grown up, I hope she

-can choose whether to move or stay.

-I'd like to think she'll

-stay close to me and the family.

-If she wants to move, I want her to

-make the choice knowing her options.

-She has the choice

-to stay and be successful.

-She doesn't have to move away

-to find something else.

-I'm leaving school

-the day after tomorrow...

-..so I'm feeling emotional.

-We're preparing a Cowboys and

-Indians theme for the last day.

-Bye for now.

-Looking forward to the party?

-Looking forward to the party?

-

-Lots!

-It's the last time we'll be together

-before going to university.

-I won't turn my back

-on my childhood home

-Despite hearing voices

-inviting on the wind

-My soul and wonderment belong to her

-She carved my youthful imagination

-I might travel to faraway lands

-and meet the gentlest of people

-I'll wish only

-for the company of old friends

-Those who shared

-a myriad secrets with me

-Very good.

-Tom's film was interesting.

-It brought back memories

-of my sixth-form days!

-Looking back was odd,

-seeing us together.

-I haven't seen them in two months.

-Seeing us in school uniforms

-gave me goosebumps!

-I don't think education

-is everything.

-But if you want a degree

-and to do well, you have to go.

-They might go, but I wouldn't

-be surprised if they came back.

-I hope they do,

-to maintain the culture.

-After succeeding

-in their A levels...

-..Mererid, Sara and Tom

-are going to university.

-S4C Subtitles by GWEAD

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