Summary: A picture of the history and current condition of the small island off the Syrian coast.
Description: Film of classical ruins, the old harbour, and the Crusaders' castle accompanies the commentary's account of the island from Phoenician to modern times; the inhabitants, it is suggested, still show traces (blonde hair, children's games) of the contact with the Crusaders, and are proud of their more recent links with France. Now it is the Free French Navy which guards them as they pursue their traditional way of life. On so small an island (no space is wasted so streets are narrow, and most grain is imported for the windmills to grind) practically everyone depends for his living on the sea: the film ends with a long sequence on the building of a fishing boat, and the making of all associated tackle, by traditional craft methods in workshops in and around an old castle. (Modern spelling of island's name appears to be Arwad).
