Thursday 13 May 2010

Larkin's Here!

Here is a contemporary cinematic interpretation of Larkin's poem of the same name, which depicts a journey east "from rich industrial shadows" through an initially bleak but increasingly fecund rural landscape and on to a large and bustling town, whose inhabitants (and their lives) are brought into sharp focus in uncompromising but affectionately honest terms before the journey continues eastwards beyond the town, to where "Ends the land suddenly" in an ethereal and unattainable "unfenced existence".

But best of all, Tom Courtney reads the poem.
http://www.philiplarkin.com/content_media.htm

And...

Philip Larkin poem 'Here' hits the big screen

A NEW film has been made to accompany one of Philip Larkin's most famous poems.

Here was written in 1964 but has been given a contemporary cutting-edge 21st century visual twist by East Yorkshire-based film production company Classlane Media.

Premiered last night at the Hull International Short Film Festival, the poem is narrated by Hull-born actor Tom Courtenay.

The film will be used to promote this year's Larkin25 festival which marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Hull-based poet.

Larkin25 chairman Graham Chester said: "I think it will become the signature film for the festival.

"I am very impressed by it."

The poem, which is the opening work in Larkin's popular Whitsun Weddings collection, depicts a journey through an unspecified landscape, although it is almost certainly based on his time in and around Hull.

The Classlane team spent a year on the project, shooting footage on location in January and February this year.

Director Dave Lee said: "The poem never mentions Hull by name but Larkin stated that it was a celebration of the city.

"We tried to mirror the poem's imagery and tone and to be true to the picture it paints of the region without specifically tying the film too literally to the city."

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Philip-Larkin-poem-hits-big-screen/article-2044240-detail/article.html

No comments:

Post a Comment