Films: Me & It's Such a Beautiful Day

Last night, film again (fourth in a week!) - a feature at the Prince Charles, who were re-showing It's Such a Beautiful Day, the animated film by Don Hertzfeldt, ccompanied by his new short film, Me. It was a short-ish walk from the office, happily - on quite early, so I went straight there. A screen in the lobby has a list of the day's films, colour-coded in light and dark blue, according to whether they're showing in the upstairs, or downstairs, screen. So I was downstairs, and made my way down there to the bar. As I did so, I overheard someone remark to his companion that "some kids' film is on down there". Ouch! Just because they're animated doesn't make them kids' films, you know.. in fact, the themes raised are of the sort I'd hesitate about showing to kids..

I got a wine and a packet of Maltesers at the bar - I was peckish, and couldn't eat till afterwards. The screen wasn't open yet, so I started eating and drinking in the bar.. found myself staring at the blackboard where people write film requests. A lot of predictable ones.. some interesting choices. As ever, I'll be curious to see whether the cinema picks up anything from them..

I had trouble reading the seat on my ticket, until I realised that what I thought was "Seat 16", with no row number, was actually "I6". As in row I. Duh.. Anyway, it started fairly promptly, with "Me".. I'm not actually that familiar with the director, but suspected it'd be quite surreal. It is.. and quite tricky to understand, although I think the basic premise is anti-technology. Because, um, after we see people fiddling with some complicated-looking technical equipment, a kind of rain starts to fall, and everyone who's outside dies..

After the "short" film - which seems to last about half an hour - comes a brief musical interlude. A message appears on screen, to explain that before the feature presentation, we shall have a clip of Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens..! Um, goodee. After this, another message explains that, before the feature presentation, we shall see "a person talking". Cue laughter. And up pops - Don Hertzfeldt, to explain that, following the torture of watching Me, and before the torture of Watching It's Such a Beautiful Day, he felt we needed a break.. He also lets us in on the secret of how he filmed It's Such a Beautiful Day, with a piece of cardboard with holes in it under the lens, to give the cutout effect that, as he says, allowed him to have several different things going on at once..

Ah, what a beautiful film! More coherent than Me, mainly because the director narrates to let us know what's happening, this follows the tale of Bill, depicted, like the people he meets, mostly, as a stick figure. Well, with a big belly. And in his case, a hat. And we observe Bill's musings as he goes through his day, and ponders the meaning of life, as stuff happens around him.

This is about an hour long - and it's fantastic! I do love this kind of surrealist animation anyway. Someone on the way out remarked to his companion that he was glad it was as good as he remembered it.. it's sweet, it's hilarious, and in parts really moving. And throughout, it's suffused with this tremendous, surreal sense of humour. And has some valuable messages for us. Oh, do go see, if you have a chance.. I adored it. So glad I had the chance to see it.

And of course, off to Bella Italia (Cranbourn Street) afterwards. Just around the corner - and I had the same table as last time, and lo, the same waiter! I noticed they had the window closed this time though - it was a cooler evening. And I had the same again - found it really hard to finish though: I blame the Maltesers! I managed the chicken, but left three chips.. not too bad..

I was too tired to blog last night - instead, caught up on a lot of sleep I missed this week! This evening, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. Film for the weekend was ambiguous - Alien: Romulus is released today, and probably worth a look, but not quite as highly rated as Kneecap, whose rating keeps rising, and which I am keen to see, so that's fine. It's the biopic of the band of the same name, from Belfast, who rap in Irish and have caused massive controversy with their aggressive lyrics. They play themselves - the film also stars Michael Fassbender, and it seems Gerry Adams makes an appearance. Both showing in Limerick Omniplex. I've booked for Kneecap.

On Monday - well, after all that film list fiddling, I couldn't resist going with The Hideout to see Star Wars: Episode IV, at the Prince Charles again.. I could have skipped doing the film list at all, this is just too good! Bella Italia again beforehand.. shall I have the same table, and meet the same waiter, as last night? Think I'll switch back to the doughballs though, it's been too long.. and this time, yes we are meeting at Clubhouse 5 before the film! which is showing quite late.

The next two days, it's TAC. On Tuesday, I'm at a play called The Weyard Sisters, a comedy about the witches in Macbeth. Showing in Riverside Studios.

On Wednesday, I'm at Sinatra & Friends with Gary Williams, a tribute show at the Crypt Cafe at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. 

Then, two Meetup socials in a row. On Thursday, I'm headed to The Hideout's "Summer Social Part II" - in conjunction with another of their groups, which used to be called The London Movie Club, and is now known as Movie Roadhouse London. It's in the BFI Riverfront Bar - there was a little confusion as to whether it's upstairs, as usual, or downstairs.. the description said both.. but now it's confirmed to be downstairs. Ouch, noisier..

And next Friday, I'm back with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - first time in an age! Not a walk this time though - no, this is a pre-trip social for those who've signed up for the trip to Bucharest and Transylvania in October! Yes, I finally got around to booking it - it's at the beginning of October, I suppose to avoid the Hallowe'en crowds. The social is on the Tattershall Castle - long time since I was there. I've put in the holiday request at work, still waiting for approval - perhaps they're waiting for my probation review, which happens in the meantime..