A woman leaves her infant in a pram and goes into a store. An old lady walks by and snatches it out. When the mother comes out, she is hysterical. Another mother is playing with her children in the park. When she moves briefly offscreen with one in search of a ball, another abductor snatches her toddler from the bench. The scene is repeated, with variations.
Some modern academic writers seem to think that British film makers in this era have a lot of issues akin with with modern feminism. I look at this four-minute movie from William Barker, who flourished for a decade, and see petit-bourgeouis anxiety. Your children are at risk from strangers! Gypsies are out to steal from you! Automobiles will explode! Your inept kitchen maid will set your house on fire!
That last one is a comedy, of course. This one is a nicely edited and shot film for the period in half a dozen scenes. True, the acting of the mothers on discovering their children missing is outsized, but I think a bit of hysteria is justified.
Some modern academic writers seem to think that British film makers in this era have a lot of issues akin with with modern feminism. I look at this four-minute movie from William Barker, who flourished for a decade, and see petit-bourgeouis anxiety. Your children are at risk from strangers! Gypsies are out to steal from you! Automobiles will explode! Your inept kitchen maid will set your house on fire!
That last one is a comedy, of course. This one is a nicely edited and shot film for the period in half a dozen scenes. True, the acting of the mothers on discovering their children missing is outsized, but I think a bit of hysteria is justified.
