Palmwoods resident and actor Anthony Nixon, had a small warrior role in the movie, Chronicles of Narnia. Now Tony has another string to his creative bow
– documentary film maker.
IN “FORGOTTEN”, Nixon travels to England and France to trace the story of a great-grandfather that prior to a few years ago no one knew existed.
“It is a very personal story for me”, says Tony,” and it has had a huge impact on my family and on everyone who has watched it.”
Tony explains how it took this major creative step forward: “My cousin was doing the family genealogy when she discovered Bryen Henaghan was my great-grandfather and that he had died on the Somme in 1916 in one of the most horrific slaughters of Commonwealth soldiers in World War One. I felt very strongly that the family had neglected his memory, and I wanted to put that right,” added Tony.
“I had no funds to speak of, but I had about 11 days in England and France following in Bryen’s footsteps from where he was born to where he was killed. He was an unknown soldier, but through my research I was able to get within meters of where he actually died.”
Tony had no funds for a hire car in France so he cycled with 25 kgs of camera equipment about 50kms per day.
“It was emotionally and physically exhausting”, says Tony, ”but I found him. I’m glad I cycled even though the weather wasn’t kind to me, it made me feel closer to the journey he must have taken on foot.”
Tony researched, wrote, directed, filmed, voiced and produced his one documentary, which is both a sympathetic and engrossing journey of discovery. The film contains graphic archival footage from World War One which Tony weaves seamlessly into his journey through France. Tony completes his personal film with his own heartfelt words. “ We did forget you Bryen but we’re not going to forget you anymore”.
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