Eldra

I saw Eldra at Welsh Heritage Week in 2005, which was held in Golden, Colorado that year. We had the delightful experience of not only viewing the film, but an opportunity to listen to the beautiful music (and bad jokes) of Robin Huw Bowen. Bowen is the premier player of the triple harp in the world today.

Bowen studied with Eldra Roberts Jarman and he has carried into the modern world the traditional music that she knew and preserved. Eldra was from a very musical family of Gypsies/Romany in North Wales. Her grandfather, aunts, and 9 of 10 uncles were prize- winning professional harpists.

My experience of the film is that it captures the sweetness of first love, and also exposes racial and religious prejudice that is both local and universal.

Eldra won at the previous year's Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado.

I absolutely adored this movie. The setting and style of the film is very reminiscent of my time growing up in rural north wales. I found the film very believable, my mother and sister also watched Eldra, and we all commented on how 'welsh' it was. The ruralness came across wonderfully, and the choices welsh families had in that era, were well thought out. Eldra's family obviously come across as very Romany Pagan, and it's this which causes the conflict between them and their neighbours, this is not unheard of still to this day. It's only when Eldra befriended a local, we find that both communities and cultures could come together, if this is allowed to blossom. Maybe more folk should watch this movie! I highly recommend it, and as a non welsh speaker (okay, apart from the odd word here and there), i found the subtitles just fabulous!

First of all I want to say that I'm absolutely not focused on big-budget Hollywood movies or star-filled blockbusters at all. I really enjoy watching independent movies from various contries from time to time. I saw this film at a local theatre where it was part of an "International Film-Weekend", so I knew in advance that this one doesn't offer any special-effects or proper editing (which this movie REALLY lacks of). Well... as long as there's a good story, interresting dialogs or nice scenery... so what.

But those things are exactly what's missing in that movie.

For about an hour I really tried very hard to concentrate on what's going on... hoping it all fits to the whole story itself... or leads to some point of "the story" later on. But from there on it really was more than clear that it had no point at all. It was just lousy dialogs with no sense or meaning behind it.

And... I really don't want to be arrogant. But the "funny passages" (which obviously were meant to be so) didn't even make me grin... and you really have to be some sort of "simple-minded" to really laugh about it.

You might say now: "This isn't a thriller, drama or deeply thoughtful movie! Just lean back, relax and enjoy the acting!"

Well... if at least the acting would have been worth mentioning then I surely would have. But even then it would have been hard, because these constant harp-tunes and folk-songs hurt my ears. (But that's - as always - individually different.)

As I see it this movie just tries to show the life/world of a little girl... her thoughts... the village she lives in - including some side-characters from there.

Maybe I am to "simple-minded" myself to understand what all this is worth watching... but I tell you what: I don't care! :-)

Finally I just have to say: If I want to watch a movie about (funny!) children with interresting stories I turn on the TV and watch some "Pipi Longstocking" on the children's program.

An excellent film showing life in Gwynedd during the 1930's.

Despite other comments, this was how Gypsy families were treated during this period in the area, and the Lord of the Manor was boorish, and the relationship (or rather lack of)between the Lord and the people of Bethesda still creates bitterness from the latter today.

This is one of the better lighter Welsh language movies, and ideal for a Sunday afternoon movie. If you cannot speak Welsh, I suggest you look for a Subtitled copy, as it is well worth watching.

An excellent portrayal of 1930's life in Bethesda, and fantastic scenic filmography too. Well worth watching if you are studying Welsh history, or just love beautifully shot films.

I saw "Eldra" at the 2003 Kansas City Film Fest.

The music is wonderful (mainly Welsh harp). The story, which purports to recount a season in the life of famed Welsh harpist Eldra Jarman (1917-2000), I found less compelling.

Eldra and her family are portrayed as sensitive, wise, compassionate, and largely despised by the boorish, insensitive, townspeople and the even more boorish and insensitive lord of the manor. The contrast is so stark that one longs for a little believable nuancing. Things are rarely so simple in human relationships.

I also, frankly, find it hard to respect anybody who still believes in fairies at the age of thirteen or fourteen.

However, I think this film will be enjoyed by many who subscribe to New-Age tenets. I simply don't fit into that class.

Beautiful visuals throughout. Lovely music. Solid acting. It's a pity the story fell short.