Film: All We Imagine As Light

Tonight I went to see All We Imagine as Light, at last - showing in the BFI. I booked, because it was selling out. Set in Mumbai, it describes the relationship between two female roommates of different ages, and their different experiences of love. 

I decided to eat afterwards, as it was an early showing. Went out in good time - but ooh, it was cold, so it was with some dismay that I saw that the departures board showed nothing leaving for 10 minutes or so, in that direction. It came as a complete surprise, then, when a #381 rounded the corner - I was so shocked, I almost forgot to wave him down! He was in something of a hurry, too. Never mind, I made the cinema in time to have a most welcome hot chocolate.

The program notes - always a favourite part of my visits here - really put me in the mood for this, giving a beautiful description of how the director makes the city a character, follows the line of inferring that these characters' stories could be anyone's. At the beginning and end, we hear snippets of comments from others in the city, whom we never meet. In fact, there's little plot to this - that's not what's important, it's more a mood. There's an interesting change of place when they help someone move to the country, and we see how they handle a slower pace of life; in a way, the city that provides so many with opportunity seems to stifle them.. instead, they grow into themselves when they have the space, and the slow pace, to do so.

The program notes speak a lot about the use of colour in the film - in particular the many shades of blue - but to be honest, that's not what I noticed so much as the lovely, simple soundtrack. Unlike what you'd expect (perhaps some traditional Indian music), most of the film is permeated with whimsical tracks. Which makes a lovely change. 

And overall, you get the idea that, like so many city-dwellers, these characters really have no idea where they're going in life, what they want.. there's some mention of how this is the city, not of dreams (as the centre of Bollywood), but of illusions. It's not until they get out to the countryside that they can begin to put some shape on their lives, become the people they were meant to be. There's a dreamlike quality to it - really, I can understand why it won the Grand Prix at Cannes. The Indian selection committee, however, failed to shortlist it for the Oscars, saying it was "a European film that took place in India". Well hey, it's certainly original - a breath of fresh air, which I can highly recommend.

Sensibly, afterwards, I went back to The Archduke for food. Where I had some gorgeous beef bourgignon, wine, and then a dessert wine with my dessert. Well, what the hey, I got a power of work done this week, I was celebrating! On the way home, I saw the most startling sight - Lime bikes used to be a nuisance, scattered around the pavements.. so now they're tidily parking them - in side streets?!

Next, two Meetup days in a row. Tomorrow, I'm heading to A Good House, at the Royal Court, with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - eating in Cote Sloane Square beforehand. Whose service speed had improved, the last couple of times I was there - let's see whether they can keep the side up. Now, following my terrible experience last Wednesday in Cote St. Katharine Docks, they're refunding me, and have given me a voucher, would you believe, redeemable in any Cote! 

And on Friday, I decided to accompany The Hideout to see Presence! in Picturehouse Central. Stars Lucy Liu. Well, it doesn't have a terrific rating, but neither does it have a bad one - and the trailer looks good.

On Saturday, back with the Crick Crack Club at King's Place, for The Three Snake Leaves, with Hugh Lupton, Ben Haggarty, and Sally Pomme Clayton - music by Sheema Mukherjee. Accompanied by a sometime companion from UITCS. Potentially meeting Ivan for a late-night drinking session afterwards - TBD.

On Sunday, two Meetup groups I haven't been with in an age - in the morning, I'm headed with London Literary Walks for a parade commemorating the execution of Charles I! Never heard of it, but apparently it's a thing. We're meeting at The Red Lion, Crown Passage.

And in the evening, I'm back with Buddies on Budgets in London, for the Winter Lights show in Canary Wharf.

On Monday, I'm back at King's Place for a Kirckman Society concert by the Paddington Trio. It'll be good to get back to classical music, it's been too long..

On Tuesday - now that next week's film list is finally out - why, I think I'll head to The Brutalist, about which I've heard so much. Stars Adrian Brody, and is apparently so long they have an intermission.. and, heh, it's in the Curzon Bloomsbury. Dare I return to Cote on St. Katharine Docks..?

Next Wednesday, I'm at Titanique, the parody musical, at the Criterion! Cheapest tickets from the official source - but lo, it wasn't until I'd bought mine that they bothered to mention it was a "severely restricted" view! Mind you, although it's behind a pillar, it's only a little 'un - I'll probably manage. Booked for Bella Italia, Shaftesbury Avenue, which I'll be passing to get there.

On the 30th, back with Over 40 Living the Life - first time this year - for Play On, a musical at the Lyric Hammersmith. Re-imagines Twelfth Night - in the Cotton Club! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend..