As usual, the NFT has a few nice TV treasures on display next month, as well as some excellent events. Here are the highlights, IMHO.
Friday 11th May: Preview: The War on Democracy + John Pilger intro
Pilger's first feature-length film for the cinema, looking at Latin America. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez gives Pilger a rare face-to-face interview.
Saturday 19th May: Bar Mitzvah Boy
Jack Rosenthal's bittersweet comedy about a teenage Jewish boy's coming of age. Plus 15 minutes of clips from the strand.
Saturday 19th May: Play for Today discussion
A panel of writers, directors, producers and academics debate Play for Today and its impact. How did it work and what were its achievements? No idea who the panel are though.
Wednesday 23rd May: A Night With the Bonzos
TV appearances by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, including Do Not Adjust Your Set and Son of the Exploding Sausage. May feature appearances by actual Bonzos.
Wednesday 23rd May: Coming to England
Floella Benjamin leads a discussion on the experiences of first-generation immigrants to the UK in the 50s and 60s. Includes a screening of Coming to England, the autobiographical account of her journey to the UK.
Friday 25th May: Eccentric England
One Man's Week: Vivian Stanshall BBC 1975 30min
The Bonzos' Viv Stanshall cycles around Muswell Hill, hunting records and attending to his terrapins.
Dave Allen in Search of the Great English Eccentric ATV 1974 52 mins
Meet a man who resides in a small iron box, plus Bonzos cohort Bruce Lacey, who has a home-made robot-lady in his shed. Meanwhile, Ivor Cutler plays the harmonium and sings at the zoo.
The Moon and the Sledgehammer UK 1971 65 mins
Words like 'weird' and 'odd' do not do justice to this remarkable, eerily beautiful folk documentary recording the exploits of a strange, mysterious family living deep in the woods - according to their own rules - along with their giant steam engines, pump organs, broken-up buses, and all manner of outlandish regalia. Once seen, never forgotten!
The Mediatheque will be crammed with Play for Today stuff that you can view for free as well. Plus there's film stuff at the NFT as well, apparently.
Updates and related entries
May 9, 2007:
Katy says: buy The Moon and the Sledgehammer on DVD
May 1, 2007 | Reply
The line-up for the Play for Today discussion at BFI Southbank on 19 May has now been confirmed.
The panellists will be drama producer Irene Shubik, who co-produced both the Wednesday Play and Play for Today strands; writer Trevor Griffiths, who scripted four Play for Todays, including Comedians and Country; director Michael Tuchner (Bar Mitzvah Boy); and Dr Dave Rolinson, a lecturer at the University of Hull who specialises in British TV Drama. The panel will be chaired by Dr Helen Wheatley, a Lecturer at the University in Warwick with research interests in many aspects of British TV, particularly drama.
May 8, 2007 | Reply
Hello,
I read your piece about the forthcoming screening of THE MOON AND THE SLEDGEHAMMER on 25th May at the NFT.
I am currently in the process of re-releasing this on DVD which can be purchased from our website:
www.themoonandthesledgehammer.com
Do you think you could add our website to your piece? There has been considerable interest in it, particularly as it hasn't been available legally for quite some time now.
Many thanks and best regards,
Katy