Jennings is the almost unsung artist of British documentary cinema. His films are poetic yet harsh - full of compassion for the wartime difficulties of civilians just trying to live through bombing and destruction and fear of death. The films are edited like music, by association and rythmn. His films emerge today as a brillent set of cultural portraits of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times.
5つ星のうち5.0Includes some very powerfull films - a definatively patriotic work.
2008年11月15日に英国でレビュー済み
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Please ignore idiots who scream "OOH ISN'T IT WONDERFULLY POLITICALLY INCORRECT!!! OOOH!". This is nonsense. The films 'Listen to Britain' and 'A Diary For William' are artistic masterpieces in their own right, in addition to being distinctly patriotic films made in a time of war. Full of hope for the future, the films are about understanding the reasons for the war, made at a time when the end was unknown. Powerful, moving, classic British wartime film.
The disk includes seven films;
1) London Can Take It!, a nine minute propaganda film from 1940 2) Words for Battle, a compilation of quotes from British and American literature recounted by Laurence Olivier. 3) Listen to Britain, one of Jennings's more famous films 4) I Was a Fireman [also known as "Fires Were Started..."], at 70 minutes is the most substantial work presented on the disc and tells the story of the day in the life of a volunteer fire fighting unit during the Blitz. 5) A Diary for Timothy, widely believed to be Jennings's masterpiece, a heart-rending portrayal of a people maintaining their daily lives while the world all around them goes mad 6) Family Portrait, released posthumously, is another celebration of British life. 7) Myra Hess Playing the First Movement of Beethoven's Sonata in F Minor Op. 57 (Appassionata) is simply a nine minute straightforward account of the pianist performing a bit of music.
5つ星のうち5.0Stiff Upper Lip-and a lot of backbone too!
2008年1月11日に英国でレビュー済み
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In our all too soft and namby-pamby politically correct present it's the easiest thing in the world to sneer at the sentiments expressed in this collection of films, and to criticise the standard of acting, quality of the film etc. This film is not for those who rave about the likes of '300', or other 'Arnified' Hollywood pap loaded to the gills with special effects, usually to disguise the abysmally poor acting offered by self-obsessed media celebrities. This film should be required viewing for all, if only to illustrate the sacrifices made on our ungrateful behalf, by an older, and infinitely 'ballsier' and more courageous generation. Being staunchly 'Politically Incorrect' I am grateful that the BFI, and others, have given me the opportunity to experience the genius of Humphrey Jennings once more. There is not a bad film in this collection, however, my personal preference exactly mirrors the playing order and I am indebted to Mr Quentin Reynolds for sticking around and helping fight our corner when too many others were running for the hills. If the film quality is not to your taste just remember this is the real thing not some backlot sound stage - as Mr Reynolds so aptly reminds us.