Of Time And The City is a unique film directed by Terence Davies that impressed occasional Muruch writer Brendan (Vic’s Irish husband) so much that he was finally inspired to write another review…
Brendan says:
Terence Davies directs and narrates this eulogy to his hometown of Liverpool. It’s a deeply personal film with universal themes, a montage of music, images, and archival film footage, and snippets from literature and poetry.
Davies won me over within the first ten minutes by featuring Franz Lizst’s glorious “Consolation no. 3 in D Flat Major,” and quoting from James Joyce and Shelley’s “Ozymandias.” The passion the director holds for classical music and classic film is evident, as is his derision for the Catholic Church and Britain’s Royal Family, but this is a film about people.
There is something profound about the human moments captured here – the companionship of an elderly couple, the roar of the crowd at a football game, people washing windows and doorsteps, warming their hands at coal-burning stoves, wiping sleep from their eyes.
The music is also wonderful. For more about the film’s music, see the post at Caught by the River.
If I had to choose one film to represent the twentieth century for future generations, Of Time And The City would be it.
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
- T. S. Eliot, “Four Quartets”
