By Haley Cullingham
“It was inspiring to meet these people because the activist spirit never left them. You can never really retire from an activist life.”
The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island tells the story of a tribe of Greenpeace activists in the 1960’s. Beautiful, passionate, and idealistic, they took to the seas aboard a ship named after an ancient Cree legend, using guerrilla tactics to stop whaling ships and nuclear transports. Zooming alongside giant hunting boats in zodiacs, long hair flying, to get between the whalers and their prey, the Rainbow Warriors were the definition of ideals in action. Their adventures were put to a violent halt when the French secret service, hearing of their plan to interfere with a ship transporting nuclear waste, blew up the ship, killing one of the crew. Today, the crew members live a quiet and peaceful life on New Zealand’s breathtaking Waiheke Island, in what some call a “retirement village for burned-out greenies.” We spoke with director Suzanne Raes about her experience making this inspiring film.

How did you stumble upon the story of the Rainbow Warriors?
It was in a way faith or pure coincidence. I was having diner with an old friend from university, Renske de Zwart, who was doing research for a book about the Dutch Greenpeace history. Some of the key characters from the early history were now living in some Greenpeace retirement Island at the other side of the world, she told me. We were fantasizing about this hippie generation growing older and wanted to know if there would be a story in it for a film. We contacted the guys at Waiheke Island and were welcome to come over. We discovered that on this island not only Dutch veterans were living there but also more crew members of the Rainbow Warrior, the wreck of the ship being not far from the island. Doing research for two weeks, and having a great time as well, we came back and started writing the scenario. By then it would be clear our focus would be on the history of the boat told by the people on Waiheke island.

What about this story inspired you?
First of all the people we met. Their energy, the choices they made, the risks they took. Also that this generation was responsible for putting the environment on the public and political agenda. In the seventies it was normal to dump nuclear waste, nuclear testing, and kill whales and seals. It was inspiring to meet these people because this activist spirit never left them. Some of them are clearly damaged by the trauma of losing the boat and their friend Fernando Perreira, but they still fight for a better world in their own way every day.

How long did you stay on Waiheke Island? Were you tempted to permanently relocate?
After the research trip of two weeks I spent a year getting funding to go there with a film crew. We filmed in April 2009 for three weeks and a half. It is a great place to live and I would not mind growing old there. But it is a hell of a distance from my family! And apart from that, no paradise is safe from upcoming ‘civilisation’, Waiheke is becoming more and more a kind of millionaires playground and ‘my’ people have a hard time surviving when prices go up.

What lesson do you think we can take from the story of the Rainbow Warriors today?
That it does matter what you do with your life. That putting your anger or frustration into action can be relieving, can be effective and be fun as well! And that you never really ‘retire’ from an activist life.

Were there any on-board stories that didn’t make it into the movie? Why?
There was a great story from 1979 when the Rainbow Warrior escaped from the Spanish police. And a scene I cut out was a dispute among the veterans if they should be having a Greenpeace pension. For some of them it is hard to see that the successful organization they worked for has forgotten them. On the other hand, they did not do it “to get a pension,” but some of them have a hard time surviving economically. But in the dramatic line of the film this dispute was confusing the story.

What interviews moved you the most?
For all of them, the interviews brought back a lot of emotions and memories. Martini is the man that touched me most, he is so honest in his anger and sadness. But also with Hanne, I had a very emotional interview.

In the film’s description, you say the Warriors must ask themselves if their ideals have proved to be tenable. Do you think they have?
For me they have. I hope the people seeing my film come to the same conclusion. And these ideals should not be something from the past. From the reactions I get from students and other young people I feel that these ideals are still present. A lot of young people have no idea what happened thirty years ago. Some of them immediately wanted to go on board a Green Peace ship.

Was there any hesitation on the part of the crew members to participate in the film?
Every five years after the bombing some journalist comes to the island to talk about that night in July ’85. But especially the Rongelap story, evacuating the island was something Hanne, Henk, Bunny and Martini wanted to talk about. These victims of the Cold War should not be forgotten. The Pacific area still suffers from this. So no hesitation. All of them are very proud of the film. For Martini and Susi, who have adolescent children, the film gave them some respect in the eyes of their children: wow, did you do that?

In July the film will have its premiere in New Zealand. In July it is 25 years ago the Rainbow warrior was bombed by the French secret service.

The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island screens Monday May 3rd at Bloor Cinema at 9:15 pm, and Wednesday May 5th at ROM Theatre at 1:30 pm