Against the Dying of the Light

I saw this film in Cardiff in January 2001 and I came away with an unashamed tear in my eye. Never before have I seen such a moving argument for the need to preserve the past in the form of old films. It was enlightening, full of facts about Welsh cinema and the state of it's canon - not overstated, yet uncompromisingly put. I had no idea the nation contained so many pioneers in the field, nor that it's archives were in such a sorry state, save for the work of those few who have struggled so hard to preserve it. The film was sumptuous to look at, the sound track was effective (who would have thought that I would have been so moved by an old Elvis Presley song, 'You Don't Know Me', hauntingly sung by Brenda Keturah Watkins.) If this is anything to go by, I think we have a real pair to watch in Jack Jewers and Leo Brend, the young producer/ directors. Well done and thank you.

My only criticism of this delightful little movie is that it was just that - little! I could have watched this for hours! This is a fantastic achievement. I saw the over-hyped 'Keepers of the Frame' a while back (they tackle essentially the same subject) and all I can say is, this is a far, far superior piece of work. It's superbly put together. Frankly, it was quite a revelation to me that pioneers in Wales had developed such revolutionary techniques, a fact very close to my heart as my family emigrated from Wales. It's very sad to me that so much has been lost. Looking at the other comments, I can't really say much else that hasn't already been said, only to add that this film really touched me in a very special way. Oh, and it has Spike from Notting Hill in it, so that makes it doubly cool in my book!

I saw this movie at the FIAF (international film archivists) convention in Morrocco in 2001. I can't believe I actually cried at this movie! I mean the emotional range within ten minutes is astonishing. I belly laughed and I cried buckets! Right from the disquietening first sequence - the amateur film of Hitler's tea party - to the beautifully understated ending, the young woman's search for the only film of her dead mother, this had me spellbound. Beautifully understated. And that song! I had actually read about this film before coming to see it and I was convinced it was going to be too much, but no. One of the finest pieces of cinema I've ever seen, despite it's running time. Thanks you guys.