Film -16th - 17th London,
Jul 13 2005 23:54
Hey.. "La Commune(Paris, 1871)" is showing at the I.C.A at 4.30 this Sat & Sun....
Jul 17 2005 13:18
#2
Thanks.. I didnt notice. I hope its a misprint or they have loads of fag breaks.
Jul 18 2005 02:32
#3
I just came back from the film and managed to make it through without falling asleep.
It was very unusual...the director had found voluenteers ( not actors ) to renact the events. and included lots of facts, stats. concerning economic inequality, past and present: problems of industrialiasation and globalisation etc. The 'actors' were encouraged to reflect on the process of film making, researched thier own roles and created the roles in the film in accordance to thier own beliefs.It was a good lesson in the trials and tribulations of attempting any kind of action.
I'm not really explaining it well, but I'd urge people to try and see / screen it somehow.
Jul 18 2005 07:36
#4
did it really last for 345 minutes?
Jul 18 2005 12:57
#5
La Commune is about 6 hours yeah - it was originally shown as a TV series I believe.
Jul 18 2005 15:08
#6
Yep.. it was fucking long.. but well worth it. So dont be put off.
It was really well edited. the scenes were kept really short, so the whole thing moved very quickly and kept your attention, with direct monologues to the viewer as well as action scenes ( it was renactment but also reflective of its own process ).In the 2nd half the 'actors' were directly calling to the audience to leave the cinema and and start fighting! They were really moved, it was very strange.
The director is Micheal Watkins. II never heard about him befor but apparently had been making radial films for about 20 years ( radical not only in subject but in method ( death of the director, self reflective etc )), although has problems with distro. He couldnt get any financial backing, screenings.. surprise surprise.
The film really worked well because of Watkins refusal of scripting etc. Instead you had the benifits of 200 odd participants research, personal engagement and reflection. I think its really exiciting to see a progect like this work so well.
The theater was pretty empty though, ( 4 other maniacs made it through ). That was a bit sad.
He has some other films showing there at the moment.
Jul 18 2005 15:13
#7
Sorry about the appaling spelling.
Another really good film out at the moment is "Moolade". Its fucking amazing.
Its about female circumcision. It reminded me of the Wicker Man.. in the problems thown up. But much better, though not as funny.
Did anyone see it?
Jul 18 2005 15:53
#8
Peter Watkins, you mean? I've seen The War Game, but nothing else of his. Would definitely like to see La Commune, and might have if I'd known it was on :/
Moolaadé has been on my download list since I read Peter Bradshaw's review of it. I'll see if it's available now...
Jul 18 2005 16:06
#9
I can't tell if it's available or not -- most of the sources for the eMule file I just tried to download claim they're the Paris Hilton sex video 
Does she realize that through her carelessness she has undermined the sharing of a film that might spread awareness of the oppression of African girls? She can't be much of a feminist, that Paris Hilton.
Jul 18 2005 20:30
#10
Lemming wrote:
I can't tell if it's available or not -- most of the sources for the eMule file I just tried to download claim they're the Paris Hilton sex video
Yeah, and its not really worth the effort, its in night vision and you can't see much 
it says it lasts for 345 minutes