Review of Of Time and the City (2008) by Sharon B — 15 Sep 2008
My favourite film at this year's Toronto Film Festival. Terence Davies' belle lettres to his hometown of Liverpool is a tone poem taking us on an impressionistic journey through the city's history, locations and people.
Film is nothing more than a juxtaposition of archival footage (though some footage was shot by Davies today), music and his incredible voice-over, reminiscent in diction and prose of Dylan Thomas. We see the massive influence of religion on the community; the devastating effect of the Korean War; the explosion of the British Invasion, particulary of course the Beatles; and most pervasively, the struggle of the working class families, trying to eke out an existence in this bleak industrial city.
Davies talks of his own struggles with faith, homosexuality, hatred of pop music, and his undying love for all the mothers, fathers and children who try to live here. Within Davies, Liverpool becomes a battleground of religion, sexuality, family, music, cinema, industry -- and dreams of escape.
Surprisingly funny and vastly entertaining.
This review of Of Time and the City (2008) was written by Sharon B on 15 Sep 2008.
Of Time and the City has generally received positive reviews.
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