Back down to earth with a bump
When we were in Liverpool Dave and Fran lent us a Terrance Davies film – Of time and the city (www.oftimeandthecity.com/ and http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_11951.ht… ) and it is here that i have to admit i have never heard of him before – but such is life – we cannot know everything can we? The film explores Davies’ Liverpool through a combination of archive material and new footage. The archive material has much the larger part and explores industrial, housing and commemorative subjects in addition to religion and change. It’s sensitive, sudden, humorous, critical and so extremely thought provoking. The narrative is excellent and strong, as is the choice of music – its the kind of work that will stay with me. Davies is quotes as saying ” As we grow older the world becomes stranger, the pattern more complicated …and now i am an alien in my own land” (1). The rate of change we are experiencing now is monumental, attitudes, ways of living, means of living, working and leisure. This really is a poignant film – do watch it if you have a chance to – I’m looking out for the others he has made.
The images that accompany this post i took when we visited Liverpool in March, and featured in the film albeit briefly.
Nicola Naismith
1. Terrance Davies quoted in Matthew Gandy’s essay Of time and the city in the booklet accompanying the BFI DVD.
