Finally The Poet and I got around to recording our second and sadly final podcast about this year's Film Festival. We discuss 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People', 'The Grocer's Son' ('Le Fils de l'Epicier'), and the new film version of 'Brideshead Revisited'. As well as touching on the Stanley Kubrick retrospective at the festival and the move from July to September for the festival.
cff2008_unoffical_podcast2.mp3
Here's the link to the official Cambridge film festival website.
Apologies for the terrible delay, this podcast was recorded last Wednesday, but due to the arrival of the norovirus it prevented me from uploading it until now. Here it is:
I had a surreal experience today. I decided I would try to attend one of the precursory events of this year's Film Festival. Rather innovatively the organisers were trying to run a series of "punt-in" movies.
By setting up projection screens on the eastern side of Grantchester Meadows the idea was that boat-folk could cruise up and enjoy a film before gliding back to base. Being the sort of practical person I am I envisaged cycling to the meadows and watching from the opposite river bank.
Setting off on my fixed gear bike - newly decked out with high-power lights I blasted over to the venue. Sadly the experience was slightly frustrating, after waiting for ages at one of the screens that was being set up in the darkening night I moved back to the first screen I saw. Sure enough it was half way through the feature I'd wanted to catch - 'Battlefield' by Humphrey Jennings. Shortly after my arrival the projector appeared to fail. So I wandered back to the other screen, the minutes ticked by and having no luck in finding out what was going to happen I went home - avoiding the cottagers by the Newnham Common parking area.
This was a nice idea but obviously the lack of spectators reduced the importance of getting the show on at the advertised 7.30pm. One punt went past and the lack of activity at the time meant the punters cruised on rather than stopping.
While it is a romantic idea the number of people who can either afford or access a punt as the night draws in will seriously reduce the draw of this type of event. Maybe advertising it as a joint cycle-in / punt-in showing would encourage more people?
I had lots of blurry shots from the evening while fiddling with the long-exposure setting on the camera. This one is the best (note the use of the Aguirre Wrath of God DVD that was used to set up the screen - very apt):
September is the new time of year for the Cambridge Film Festival. The Poet and I will be endeavouring to visit a selection of films and other film-related events during the next 9 or 10 days.
This year things are especially complicated for us, however a couple of unofficial podcasts will be recorded and placed on the site ready for you to download and (hopefully) enjoy.
See you at the flicks!
