Grow Your Own

Flix in the Wet continue to amaze me with their program. It has to be the first time ever that I have heard about only one movie out of the whole selection. The person(s) selecting the films went to great length to dig deep into the best of the recent world production without being too indie neither. Yesterday evening brought another fine couple of alternatively moving and funny hours. Grow Your Own was touching for its depiction of real suburban characters perturbed by the influence of foreigners on the little piece of England they call the Allotment somewhere around Liverpool. But you quickly realise they all have their own past and present personal stories, some of them very tragic, others quite touching. Not highly philosophical but not dumb neither. Just a sweet, genuine and warming comedy. Oh and I forgot to mention it was out on Warp films, the movie division of the ever groundbreaking Warp Records.

Canteen - Great British Food

Back from London but I had to write a few lines about an interesting restaurant. Everyone (in France) is always bashing British food. While it might not be as varied or refined as French food, I have always objectively defended it as what people usually know are only the greasy fish'n'chips or the weird jelly dessert combinations. Suffice to branch to a modern restaurant serving traditional food like the Canteen near Liverpool Street and your opinion about the subject might change greatly. From the yummy roast of the day, through the pies or the classic bangers and mash the menu is a list of what British food really is about. And do not skip the dessert list!

No But Yeah But No But Yeah...

There was a time when I used to collect mugs. Well... You know how it works... You travel, you buy one mug from somewhere as a souvenir and then another one and then again and before you know it you end up with dozens of them. That time has long gone but I still enjoy drinking my tea in a nice cup. Or not necessarily nice - as in beautiful - but something different or something of significance. And I do not like them too thick or too bland. I do not usually enjoy the funny shapes though except from my Little Britain cup. Ah Vicky!

"One Down"

Rewind. The movie I watched today ('Dead Man's Shoes') is not new as it was released 4 years ago but I just got to watch it on DVD for the first time tonight. Strangely enough I do not really recall reading anything about it and I simply bought it on the strength it was released by the always offbeat Warp label (which is primarily a record label). It is a violent but amazing piece of British cinema and I now read that the main actor, Paddy Considine, went on to win the title of ‘Best British Actor’ at the Empire Award on the strength of his play in this very movie. Strong acting and an amazing soundtrack are two good reasons to see Dead Man's Shoes. For all folks into Graphic Novels, this story was also edited in that format and was available through the Warpmart.