NEW PROGRAMME ADDITIONS: THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS and TURTLE: THE INCREDIBLE STORY
The London Film Festival is delighted to announce two more additions to the 2009 programme:
Emmett Malloy’s THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS
[Fri 16 Oct 23.30 NFT1 & Sat 17 Oct 15.30 Vue5]
In the summer of 2007, just after the release of Icky Thump and in the lead-up to their tenth anniversary, The White Stripes set out on an ambitious and idiosyncratic tour, aiming to play in every province and territory in Canada, ‘from the ocean to the permafrost’, as Jack White put it. Given the band’s heavy investment in creating mystique and managing their own image, it’s intriguing to learn that film maker Emmett Malloy was invited along, and was able to record this beautifully shot and often very touching document of their journey on and off stage. The night-time gigs often have the feel of being big events in small towns, whilst during the day, Jack and Meg play a variety of ‘secret’ shows - in pool halls, schools, bowling alleys, even a flour mill - where their blues roots resonate with many of the communities they visit. This version of The White Stripes, best seen in a wonderful scene with a group of Inuit elders, is less the cool, successful rock and roll band, and more as curious if musically gifted duo in search of authentic experiences. Alongside this, the intimate moments between the acutely private Meg and her ersatz brother are fascinating, and ultimate poignancy of the film is every bit as haunting as the wide Canadian landscapes. [Dir Emmett Molloy | USA 2009 | 93mins]
Nick Stringer’s TURTLE: THE INCREDIBLE STORY
[Sat 17 Oct 15.45 Vue7]
After the success of March of the Penguins (LFF 2005) and Arctic Tale, it’s the small, loggerhead turtle that achieves big screen exposure in this charming documentary. Charting its long journey as it migrates from the Sargasso Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf Stream, this fascinating creature is at risk from the outset, whether it be from the crabs who try to pick-off the vulnerable newborns, the predatory birds and sea creatures who fancy a tasty treat or the indiscriminating fishing techniques of the human world. This heartfelt, labour of love from film-maker Nick Stringer is at its best when showing off the beauty of the underwater landscape in a variety of different locations and seasons as we join the turtle and celebrate the epic journey that has been undertaken against all odds.
[Dir Nick Stringer/Scr Melanie Finn/narrated by Miranda Richardson/UK-Austria-Germany 2009/81 min]
The Festival runs from October 14 - 29 and full programme information and tickets are available at: www.bfi.org.uk/lff