A very heartfelt film, in which a group of people tied together only because they're seeking asylum are sent to a (fictional) Scottish island while awaiting the processing of their refugee claims. With deadpan humour and a lot of empathy, this film is threaded through with Omar's connection to his oud. Yes, I did sob at the end. Also slightly proud of myself that I immediately recognised the film was filmed on the Uists (despite never having been). Bold text Italic text Link

A cool slice of life documentary giving a peek into punk culture in Ulster in the late 70s. This was my first time seeing Terri Hooley speak, what a man, what a legacy to leave. I found this while searching through the BFI archival collections, it didn't grab my attention as much as other things I've been watching as of late, but I'm still glad that I watched it, and more glad that its out there. It was very interesting also seeing the little glimpses of Belfast and Derry at the time.

An episode of 'World in Action' I stumbled on in the BFI archival footage collections, this was right up my street. The trade union movement, Scotland, and shipbuilding, it really did feel like a merger of three of the things most piqueing my interest at the moment. It was inspiring seeing these men's dedication to their craft, and I think the documentary maker's own past working in the shipyards paid dividents in the creation of the episode (think of it as a stand-alone short documentary). I enjoyed seeing the music being used at the protest also!

A narrated fictional account of a homosexual British spy and double agent for the Soviets, largely drawing on the Cambridge Five. A short film that sheds nuance and humanity on a subject I had only ever read about from a distant, analytical, matter of fact third person perspective, with absolutely gorgeous 16mm film footage of mundanity and simple beauty in Cambridge and London. The contrast in the gentle scenes depicted and some of the narrator's comments is strangely enjoyable, and perhaps most telling of all is that this has captured my interest to the extend of further research, which is always a good sign in my books.

"This is the lie of Valparaiso. Her lie, the sun. Her truth, the sea."

A French short documentary on the Chilean port city of Valparaiso in the early 60s. THe narration can be quite lyrical and the music adds a lot of interest, paired with the insights into life in the city and villages and the perhaps unique aspects that make it function - the cable car for example. The difference in worlds between the city down below and the villages up above.

The first song is a variation of 'Goodbye Fare Thee Well' which I found to be mildly serendipitous, given I sang that song a lot in my last week on Rathlin -my own little seaside city. I love those little glimpses of coincidence.

My first Catalan-language film, centred on a fruit farming family coping (or trying to cope) with the rapidly changing landscape around them, and how relationship to land is increasingly devalued.

Some aspects I thought they would delve deeper into, and I found the different family members' arcs slightly disjointed, but in some ways that's part of its charm and sentiment; everyone reacts differently and has varying concerns that influence their perspective on the potential loss of:- at worst their land, and at best their way of living on and with it.

I wouldn't say I *loved* this film, but I do think it is important, and real, and I'm glad I watched it. I think also, having watched the Shipyard 'Work-In' strike documentary (Sounds of the Clyde) shortly after this, the messages of the two (of passion for the generational craft in a world increasingly profit-centric) have cemented eachother and left more of an impression than I had initially thought. I keep seeing little memories of this film as I go about my days over a week after watching it now. For some reason, Quimet and Dolors' son Roger keeps lingering in my head - I found his way of dealing with the upcoming loss and the chaos it had brought to be interesting, particularly with his near expressionless face. You knew so much was going on inside his head and heart, and yet it didn't show externally. The very last scene is slightly haunting and certainly emotive.