A Story of Bones details the years-long struggle of a remarkable woman named Annina van Neel. Born in Namibia, Annina found herself on the remote island of St. Helena after marrying a local man. She took a job overseeing the construction of the island’s first airport as the environmental officer. Though not from St. Helena originally, Annina immersed herself in the community and history of this place. So when builders uncovered a chilling discovery—the skeletons of over 300 enslaved Africans buried long ago—Annina took it upon herself to advocate for them.
Against indifferent authorities and lingering colonial attitudes, Annina fought tirelessly to honor the buried dead with a proper ceremony and memorial. She refused to let their story and sacrifice be forgotten or brushed aside. Joining forces with American historian Peggy King Jorde, the two women spent years battling neglect, delays, and resistance.
But Annina was fiercely determined, appearing alongside island historians and residents determined to speak for those no longer able to speak for themselves. Over time, through patience and persistence, Annina succeeded in giving the skeletons the respectful reburial and recognition that had been denied for so long. Her passion and leadership uplifted the whole community.
In following Annina’s story, the film shines a necessary light on forgotten histories from St. Helena’s past. It celebrates the everyday people who stand up when others want to stand aside. Above all, it introduces us to a truly remarkable woman—an environmental officer who somehow found the strength to uproot entrenched injustice, one slow step at a time.
The Isolated Isle of St. Helena
Set over a thousand miles into the South Atlantic lies the small and remote island of St. Helena. For centuries, it stood virtually cut off from the outside world, accessible only to the occasional trading ship or naval vessel. Such isolation shielded the secrets of St. Helena’s past, ones that would emerge unexpectedly with plans for modernization.
As a British colony since the 1600s, the island played an unfortunate role in the aftermath of slavery’s abolition. Liberated slaves taken from captured vessels were often deposited here, living in terrible conditions as for all intents and purposes “exiles” on this tiny patch of land far from Africa. For thousands, St. Helena became their final resting place in unmarked graves.
Napoleon himself would experience the isolating forces of this place, dying in exile here in 1821 and receiving an elaborate tomb. In contrast, the Africans received no such honors or recognition. Their sacrifices and sufferings went all but forgotten.
Into the 21st century, the UK government aimed to reposition St. Helena through tourism. Constructing the island’s first airport promised such connections to the wider world. But this development abruptly unearthed the past. Human remains were discovered during construction, revealing a burial ground holding over 300 skeletons.
Filmed through vivid landscape shots, one senses St. Helena’s stark, enduring beauty and the close-knit communities of its 3,000 residents. Rural and untouched, time seems to have stood still, from the ghostly centuries-old plantations to the brooding green valleys. It is here among this rugged scenery and history that the push to remember hidden lives took root, changing the island.
Crews building an airport road that would bring modern comforts to St. Helena’s isolation inadvertently disturbed a site of past suffering. Their bulldozers unearthed the lingering traces of the island’s role in slavery—grave after grave holding Africans exiled here generations ago.
Initial reactions varied across the community. Some felt dismay at the disrespect shown to sacred burial grounds. Others questioned delaying progress. Still others remained indifferent, wishing to leave the past where it lay.
Among the locals, opinion started shifting as activists like Annina van Neel shared what the construction uncovered and advocated honoring the dead. The accidental discovery sparked an unexpected reckoning with a history long burrowed and forgotten. Views evolved toward properly memorializing those buried without recognition for so long in this lonely place, far from home, seeking to right old wrongs.
What began with upset over disrupted ruins became a Story of Bones bringing a community together towards justice and remembrance through patience and compassion. Out of isolation, connection was finding its way to the souls of St. Helena.
Rising to Advocacy: The Story of Annina van Neel
At the heart of A Story of Bones lies the remarkable story of one woman, Annina van Neel. Originally from Namibia, Annina’s path eventually led her to the shores of the distant island of St. Helena. There she started a family with a local man and soon gained work overseeing construction of a new airport as an environmental officer.
But Annina’s role changed course completely when her eager questioning uncovered grave secrets in the island’s soil. Remains indicated a burial ground containing hundreds of individuals, representing thousands more lost to history. Annina was stunned to find the long-dead were still being denied the dignity they deserved.
Through interviews featured in the film, Annina’s passionate yet calm determination comes through. Rather than ignoring what she found or leaving it for someone else, she personally took up the cause of honoring the dead. Facing obstacles at every turn, Annina fought tirelessly for years to see the skeletal remains reinterred properly and their stories memorialized.
Standing up against indifference required unwavering resolve. When plans stalled or faced alterations, Annina refused to let the issue be sidelined or compromised. Joining with likeminded allies, she consistently pushed authorities and governments toward justice through civil petitioning. All the while, Annina showed remarkable leadership, uniting communities towards remembrance through open-hearted discussion.
By shining a light on hidden histories and introducing faces that represent thousands more, Annina emerged from outsider to compassionate advocate. Her story shows how empowering one strongly caring individual can be and how even the longest of struggles can end in small victories through quiet perseverance against great wrongs.
Persistence Against Indifference
When Annina’s questions first uncovered burial remains, little did she know the journey ahead. Almost immediately, challenges arose against honoring the dead with dignity. But Annina was unwavering in her commitment.
Work stalling on the excavated 325 revealed entrenched indifference to colonial crimes and those affected. Annina persisted, bringing awareness by sharing what was found. Over years, obstacles like delays and altered plans continuously emerged from authorities comfortable, leaving the past buried.
Undaunted, Annina joined with Peggy, who brought experience battling similar preservation issues. Together they strategized civil appeals, hinting at legal action if necessary. While patience was key, so was applying diplomatic pressure.
The film adeptly ties their advocacy to wider threads—from St. Helena’s history to global racial justice movements. Gradually, opinion shifted among islanders as Annina’s open discussions engaged all viewpoints.
Most impactful was examining an ancient braided hair up close. This small relic crashes centuries of melted resistance, reminding us all of our shared stake in the past. Though victory was slow, small steps accumulated through compassion.
Even now, Annina’s message echoes—that dismissals of injustice inherit responsibility for continuing it. A Story of Bones pays tribute to those persisting long after cameras depart, so others may find courage to join when societal tides need turning.
Capturing Stories Through Film
One thing that becomes clear in A Story of Bones is the care taken behind the camera. Directors Joseph Curran and Dominic de Vere, working with their editors, have sewn together various threads into a cohesive whole.
Interviews with Annina, Peggy, and island residents breathe life into the issues. Archival media adds historical context. And the rugged coastal scenery and lonely settlements beautifully set the scene.
This landscape photography proves a clear strength. It transports viewers to St. Helena, letting the isolated terrain become another character. Such visuals deepen understanding of challenges facing the tiny population.
Weaving commentary and imagery with a keen cinematic eye, the filmmakers capture moving and empathetic portraits. Annina especially comes through as a passionate figure on her quest for acknowledgment.
Despite serious subject matter, the directors maintain a low-key approach. Rather than sensationalize, they focus attention where it’s required to appreciate the stakes of the challenge while avoiding unnecessary drama.
Through their dedicated work behind the lens, multiple angles are adroitly brought together. The end product absorbs and informs, drawing connections while painting everyday heroes in the light they deserve.
Echoes of the Past and Present
A Story of Bones visits weighty themes that reverberate long after the ending credits roll. It grapples with the necessity of facing histories willingly left buried and acknowledging wrongs inflicted upon fellow humans.
Chief among these is the idea that injustices of the past linked all people worldwide through systems like slavery. The film challenges the misconception that past offenses belong to past generations alone. In truth, collateral effects persist until a society makes amends.
It shows how everyday citizens with compassion can overcome even powerful forces if resolute in purpose. Through patience and bringing diverse people together, obstacles appearing insurmountable sometimes yield. Even those assuming change threatens can learn empathy enhances all.
Though progress was gradual here, the film underscores victories arise from determined individuals standing up at all levels instead of relying solely on authorities. Its downbeat conclusion reminds me how much work remains worldwide to fully dismantle the oppressive structures still casting long shadows.
Perhaps its most resonant theme emerges where the personal meets the political—how confronting hard truths from any vantage can stir others to action. By facing shadows of the past with courage and sharing the burden of responsibility, a brighter future may dawn.
A Story Worth Remembering
In revisiting A Story of Bones, several things stand out. Chiefly, its highlighting of histories too long left buried that deserve acknowledgment and reflection. The film breathes life into such narratives through vivid portraits of those fighting to resurrect the past.
Though at times repetitive in pace, the documentary succeeds overall in powerfully sharing its significant story. It introduces viewers to extraordinary individuals still dedicated to the struggle, long after cameras fade. We also glimpse everyday people gradually understanding how connection across divides transforms communities.
For anyone drawn to tales that challenge preconceptions or remind us of shared duties, this provides nourishment. It encourages reckoning with the lingering effects of past wrongs respectfully addressed. And it reminds us that small voices united can ultimately shift even massive tides.
As Annina implied, discrimination evolves if left unopposed, so vigilance remains vital. The film leaves one with optimism that more will heed lessons of courageous souls like her and Peggy. If even one viewer feels emboldened to amplify suppressed voices, the film will have spread its message of inclusion’s importance wherever human lives intersect. Some stories are simply too important to forget.
The Review
A Story Of Bones
Though at times its momentum drags, A Story of Bones succeeds more often than not in bringing an important tale affecting us all to engaging life. It introduces viewers to extraordinary ordinary people who ensure history's hard lessons are not forgotten, as such insights remain our surest path towards greater justice. Their perseverance in challenging indifference through compassion inspires, as does the film's reminder that small voices unified can shift even centuries of inertia.
PROS
- Powerful true story of resistance against injustice and fighting for proper acknowledgment of the past.
- Well-developed central protagonist in Annina van Neel, who is compelling and inspiring.
- Beautiful landscape cinematography that transports viewers to St. Helena.
- Manages to weave together multiple narrative strands over different time periods cohesively.
- Sober and impactful approach to difficult subject matter, avoiding sensationalism.
- Raises important themes still relevant today around colonial legacies, racism, and grassroots activism.
CONS
- At nearly two hours, it does feel slightly repetitive in the second half and could have been trimmed by 10-15 minutes.
- Storytelling pace is occasionally slow, which may not engage some audience attention spans.
- Lower production values and cinematography compared to feature documentaries.
