David Lynch

at BFI Southbank

David Lynch has been responsible for some of the most innovative, daring and talked-about
films in the last 40 years of American cinema. Throughout February, BFI Southbank will
present all of his films in a complete retrospective that will include his early shorts and
substantiate Lynch’s reputation as a pioneer among contemporary American filmmakers.
Renowned Tweeter and latterly musician, David Lynch’s career trajectory has taken him
from an often challenging avant-garde director, with his surreal first shorts The Alphabet
(1968) and  The Grandmother  (1970), to a thought-provoking auteur with films such as
Mullholland Drive (2001) and  Inland Empire (2006) – incorporating the seminal television
series  Twin Peaks  along the way. Lynch began his creative career studying painting, but
made the transition to filmmaking which took him to LA where he began the five-year
process of making his first feature Eraserhead (1976). Starring Jack Nance, this disturbing
debut became a cult classic and led way for a dip into the mainstream with his portrayal of
The Elephant Man  (1980), which also earned Lynch his first  Oscar  nomination for Best
Director.

The sci-fi epic Dune (1984) was followed by Lynch’s landmark film Blue Velvet (1986). This
won him another nomination from the Academy and received critical acclaim for its tale of
murder and sadomasochism behind the white picket fences of suburbia. With outstanding
performances from Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini, Lynch established himself as a
leader in US independent filmmaking, appealing to both audiences and academia alike –
the latter who would go on to coin the term ‘Lynchian’ to describe a surreal and uncanny
tone that rippled through Hollywood titles.

His star was on the ascent: his road movie Wild
at Heart (1990) won the Palme D’Or at Cannes while from the cover of Time magazine he
was dubbed a genius. Though press vilified  Twin  Peaks:  Fire  Walk with Me (1992), Lynch
remained faithful to his vision and spirit of rebellion, presenting first the LA noir mystery
Lost Highway  (1996) and then, from the leftfield, the life-affirming story of a 73-year old
man who travelled cross-country on a lawnmower to visit his brother in The Straight Story
(1999). Each film restored his status as a truly remarkable director. The last decade has seen Lynch make only two films, including  Mulholland Dr. (2001) -
widely regarded as a modern masterpiece. But he has also created a foundation of
Transcendental Meditation for deprived children and collaborate with musicians such as
Danger Mouse and Angel Badalamenti, and recently release a solo album. This season will
provide a rare reminder of the creative genius of Lynch, on screen, and why he remains one
of the most ground-breaking artists of his generation.


The BFI Southbank is open to all. BFI members are entitled to a discount on all tickets.  BFI Southbank
Box Office tel: 020 7928 3232. Unless otherwise stated tickets are £9.00, concs £6.65 Members pay £1.40
less on any ticket. Website www.bfi.org.uk/southbank

THIS SCEPTRED ISLE: Day Trips In England 1940s to 1970s –

The Films of Harold Baim

Suggested Price: £19.99

A must have for any historian or travel fanatic is THIS SCEPTRED ISLE: Day Trips in England 1940s to 1970s – The Films of Harold Baim – now available on DVD from Strike Force Entertainment.

Spanning the 30 years from 1944 to 1974, THIS SCEPTRED ISLE, features nearly 6 hours of comprehensive archive film and covers over twelve multiple destination archive travelogues bursting with ideas for English day trips and weekends away.

Featuring city, coast and countryside fun and frolics, THIS SCEPTRED ISLE offers viewers the chance to witness and celebrate the English history and heritage of some of the tourist hotspots of yesteryear, as filmed by celebrated British film producer, director and writer Harold Baim.

Containing 2 discs, THIS SCEPTRED ISLE includes fascinating films such as ‘The English Riviera’, which takes us on a journey of Coastal Devon and its beauty spots, historical buildings and resorts, ‘Stories Of Lakeland’, which offers viewers the chance to witness the tranquil and dramatic scenery of the Lake District to ‘The Plymouth Sound’, a chance to visit the vibrant city of Plymouth, its Naval base and maritime history. This is to name but a few of the fabulous films!

Additional highlights also include ‘Reserved For Animals’, which sees Terry Wogan take a trip to the Safari Park at Woburn Abbey and ‘World Of Wax’ which opens the doors to the famous Madame Tussauds in London.

Bonus features also include ‘This is Guernsey’, which offers a tour around the Channel Island to discuss its Second World War Occupation and also ‘Pete Murray Takes You To Hastings’, which features well known TV Personality and DJ, Pete Murray as he explores Hastings – the famous seaport and battleground of 1066.

Best known and remembered for his travelogues, these spectacular archive films by Harold Baim will take you back in time. They are the exact films originally seen at your local cinema as secondary features to some of the biggest movies of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Also available from the Harold Baim collection and released by Strike Force Entertainment is SWINGING UK / UK SWINGS AGAIN, a nostalgic double-bill which brings back the sounds of the sixties.

THIS SCEPTRED ISLE: Day Trips in England 1940s to 1970s – The Films of Harold Baim is available from all good retailers, priced at £19.99.  For more information visit www.strikeforcetv.com or follow Strike Force Entertainment on www.fbook.me/SFE.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC SPONSORS LONDON CRITICS’ CIRCLE FILM AWARDS 2012

Virgin Atlantic has today announced it will be the principal sponsor for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards 2012.
The award ceremony is celebrating is 32^nd year and will be held on the 19 January 2012 at the BFI Southbank and will be hosted by Chairman of the Critics’ Circle Film Section Jason Solomons.
Jason Solomons, Virgin Atlantic’s onboard Film Critic and Chairman of The Critics’ Circle Film Awards commented:


“Virgin Atlantic and The Critics’ Circle Film Awards make a great partnership, illustrating their support for the best and newest in film.  This year’s award ceremony will be hot on the heels of the Golden Globes and before the Baftas so we know it will be a star-studded event, celebrating our favourite films of the last year, from around the world."”