Three more entries into the Made Up North section of this year's Bolton Film Festival. The connection with all these three films is the city of Manchester.
1. She - UK 2020 - Dir: Matt Greenhalgh
Does anyone else have a voice inside their head which creates a narrative for them as they go through their day? I know that sometimes I do, although it isn't a constant one, and it certainly isn't one which consumes my whole being and takes over completely controlling my thoughts and actions, which is what happens in this story.
Abigail Laurie is an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life in the city of Manchester, and yet her inner voice is condemning her and goading her constantly, it's like having a devil permanently on your shoulder telling you how wrong and how rotten you are; and she seemingly cannot rid herself of this demon.
She boards a train and arrives in Carlisle, and still her inner monologue is driving her - quite literally - to the edge. It is only when she is standing on an escarpment high about a lake (Windermere?) that her inner voice stops and she is at peace.
Produced by Creative Force Films, this is a lovely allegory for our times and how we all need space and time for ourselves in a world that more often than not moves too quickly for us to understand it.
2. Songs Of The City - UK 2019 - Dir: Adelina Court - WORLD PREMIERE.
Animated films are really not my thing, but since I live in Manchester and this film was only 3 minutes long, I thought I'd give it a go!
It's actually a very clever and proficient animation, unlike anything I have seen before. It's predominently black and white, but every so often the colour orange is also used. Orange being a colour I have long associated with Manchester, especially its transport network.
The film takes you on a blackbird's eye-perspective and unusual journey past some of the city's landmarks which are all givem a unique twist, using original sound which helps the film along.
Clever and interesting.
3. Pavement - UK 2020 - Dir: Jason Wingard
This film serves as a superb visiual allegory for the way in which most homeless people are viewed: ie: invisible, sullying the streets, and ultimately someone else's problem.
With local actor Steve Evets playing the main role, this short, shot in Manchester sees a homeless man outside a city bank slowly disappearing into the pavement. The bank staff and security have no pity and want him moved on, whilst the passers-by generally ignore him, and with each rebuff he sinks a little further. It's only one female bank employee who risks her career to try and save him before he, surrounded by police, digger operator, security, and public, as they all fight it out and bicker over whose responsibility he is, eventually disappears under the tarmac.
Cleverly filmed with realistic special effects, this is undoubtedly one of the best films of the festival so far.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 18/10/20
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