A Sunday Afternoon at Home #2: Three short films and some comedy

18 May 2009 AT 12.08am in Blog | 1 comment

Hello all, sorry I’ve not added any content in a while - been in a bit of a funk, so creativity’s shot to hell. I thought I’d introduce you to three fantastic little films you may not have seen before.

The Wolfman (dir. Tim Hope, 1999)

“I was sitting in my leather arm chair watching telly, thinking how marvellous it would be to be a werewolf. How fantastic and different my life would be…” You may have seen the brutally edited version used as Playstation2 advert, but this is the original six-minute mini epic, a masterful aural and visual trip into what I can only assume is the very weird mind of animator Tim Hope. Apparently it was created in Hope’s bedroom without any funding, using 2D cutouts and a basic 3D animation program. Wait until you get to the transformation into a “hairy person… a huge rancid dog”: it really is a rich, stunning rush. Here’s a link to the PS2 ad but I urge you to experience the full version, preferably with the lights down and the sound up. It’s amazing.

 

Barcelona, 1908 (dir. Ricardo Baños, 1908)

Simply put, this is a record of a tram ride through Barcelona, filmed by a pioneer of Spanish cinema over a hundred years ago. Why does it evoke a deeper response than the simple joy of watching bystanders play up to the camera, cyclists and cars crossing the tracks with apparently inches to spare? It’s hypnotic and fascinating, uniquely bringing to life an era now lost for ever. Gorgeous.

 

Manifestations (dir. Giles Timms, 2009)

Another animation coupled with a perfect soundtrack by Ceri Front. Not sure what it’s all about, apart from a cute four-legged chap called Mr Chip who finds love, but I’m in awe of the pretty pictures, how it all restlessly whips about and blurs and shakes, mixing computer animation with (apparently) hand drawn elements and grungy textures and dreamy palettes.

 

And here are some random funny bits…

There’s nothing funnier than seeing a merciless Peter Cook reduce Dudley Moore to helpless giggles, so here’s Pete and Dud visiting an art gallery.

Even more surprising than Stephen Fry’s hair is the realisation that it all actually makes complete sense.

There are people far richer than I who are a bit touchy about this being online, so I’ll say nothing about it. I expect you’ll have seen it before anyway, but it’ll still make you laugh all the way down to your gold-plated diapers. Nappies, I mean.

  1. Giles Timms’s avatar

    Giles Timms on 6 August 2009 AT 9.56pm

    Colin, thanks ever so much for the write-up!

    http://www.gilestimms.com

    Reply