St. Helena - A remote island in the Atlantic | DW Documentary
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Published 2017-10-28
It’s like the end of the world in the middle of the Atlantic. Five days, with a northwesterly course, and only then do the sheer black cliffs appear in front of RMS St. Helena. The island’s 4500 residents are often waiting impatiently for the ship’s arrival and panic if the schedule changes. Director Thomas Denzel and his team went on the journey to Saint Helena and met the people living on the island. Many of the residents are descendants of people who were sent into exile there by the British crown - the most famous among them, the French Emperor Napoleon. This is a report about life at the end of the world, loneliness, unique vegetation, and a very special journey.
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All Comments (21)
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People on these remote islands seem to be very happy and content with their lives. I really envy that.
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I sailed there over 30 times from Cape Town as a yacht delivery captain and knew many of the locals.Such a wonderful life experience.I loved the local food especially the famous fish cakes and every time I moved on I would take a batch with me.Sad to think the ship will no longer operate.
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Being a sailor for 26 years, i can feel her emotions. I miss the sea. But i need to change course, to be with my family. St. Helena is an island of dreams. Love this documentary.
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At the age of 10 ( 1958 ) on our way from Cape Town to Southampton the boat stopped and anchored at St Helena . My 2 older brothers and me went ashore with a smaller boat. We climbed the 699 steps and visited Napoleons residents ( prison ) and stood in the room he died. Before the stop at St Helena the boat made a stop at “Ascension Island” and after St Helena the Canary islands “ las Palmas . Great memories !
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The RMS St. Helena. I feel something watching this documentary, mixed in with a certain degree of sadness. The last ever ship built in Aberdeen Scotland, after a long history of shipbuilding there. There is a fair portion of my soul, blood and sweat imbued into the very fabric of that ship. We were aware that this boat was most likely the end shipbuilding in Aberdeen. Hall Russell's (the yard had been privatised and had been renamed, but was still HR at its heart) was the last yard there to succumb to the fashion of de-industrialisation of major heavy industries in the UK and beyond, something that needn't have, nor should have happened. The ship was supposed to have been launched by Sarah Ferguson but for whatever reasons her husband, Prince Andrew launched it instead. I remember looking down at the top of his head. On Launch day, the folks that you see going down the slipway on a ship are not there for a "jolly" but have to go below into the darkness as soon as it hits the water, armed with torches and a large spanner to check all spaces, tanks etc below the water line for leaks and if necessary take the appropriate actions to stop any flooding should anything be discovered. Everything was checked prelaunch, but..........there is always a but......it would not the first time a new ship has been found taking on water. It was all clear. Anyway. It was good to see the ship still working and in good order even though it is now no longer serving in this role. I have good, if somewhat nostalgic, memories attached to being heavily involved in fabricating the steelwork of this ship, there were not so many of us left by the time this was being built.
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Wow! St Helena has changed dramatically since HMS Minerva anchored off Jamestown in 1970. Napoleon's house was largely empty of furniture, certainly not the grand tourist attraction it is now. The biggest surprise to me for such a small island was the contrast between a dry and barren edge and a constantly wet interior - it was the constant damp that leeched the arsenic from the green wallpaper (standard at the time) into the atmosphere that killed Napoleon. At the time the currency was the old British £SD - pounds shillings and pence, and the sailors used to scatter pennies for the urchins to scramble after. At one time my photo of Jamestown from the sea was the only picture of Jamestown on Wikipedia, but replaced with better ones a long time ago. A lovely island, and I treasure my memories of it. I hope it remains as unspoilt as it was 52 years ago.
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The anticipation and isolation of Saint Helena Island come alive in this documentary. The resilience of its residents, many descended from exiles like Napoleon, is inspiring. Thanks to the documentary for revealing the unique world at the end of the Atlantic.
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My father was a captain. We have traveled from Istanbul to Cape Town a lot. We visited more than 20 countries and my favorite city was Sao Paulo and Miami. I used to accompany my father on his journey. When he was 13, he went on a trip to the island of St Helena and I wanted to go with him. We had the opportunity to tour the island. It was wonderful to see the house where Napoleon spent his last years. I was in heaven for a week.
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My grandmother is from St Helena. She left 70 years ago, still has her accent
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My ex-husband used to work on the RMS St Helena. he always said how beautiful the island was, now I can see it for myself.
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R I P Captain Young, Bridge captain in this video who died unexpectedly about 3 years ago of a heart attack.
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Been on this beautiful Island a few times while working for Silversea Cruises,,we sail from Rio de Janiero, to Asencion island, St. Helenas, Walvis Bay and finally to Capetown.
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That was most interesting and enjoyable. I knew nothing about St. Helena except that Napolean got exiled there. Thanks for the education.
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If I were to travel the world, places like these are the places I want to experience. Raw and beautiful. Not those usual (literally)on the map tourist spots.
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Never ceases to amaze and amuse me that those of us in the Southern Hemisphere who speak English have ALL flattened the vowels. I was mistaken for an Australian frequently when I lived in England for a while. I’m from Cape Town.
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It appears that 4 million people just found out about how awesome it is to visit St. Helena...Thanks DW Documentary!
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Privileged to have visited the island on the then RMS St Helena in 1982 and an honour to have met the crew of professionals who served her and us on our way South. Slainte.
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I visited during Christmas in 1995! Had the absolute time of my life! I worked on Ascension and had many Saints working for me. A wonderful people in their own right. Hello St. Helena, Johnny and Whiskey and Bridigette, and Neville's family! Thank you forever for Jeffery and Sharon's wedding! And God Bless you May Murcury and hello to you Jason and Danny and Keddil, Dilly and Len,....... I remember you all fondly!
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I visited there for a couple of weeks in 2019. Some of the most friendly people as a whole that I have ever been around. Two weeks of hiking, hanging out with the locals and watching cricket at the The Standard pub in Jamestown. Great time.
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Spend half a year there and enjoyed being the only tourist. Guess I hiked down all the amazing fisherman's paths into the lonely bays. A dream come true. Never saw such a bedazzling night sky again.
