Re. Richard Armstrong's: "I wonder if anyone can suggest a British film
or
> TV documentary of this..(reflexive).. type?"
If you are inclined to achieve the dubious kudos of "discovering" a
previously unrecognized ... (well I can't honestly say) .. masterpiece, but
an interesting documentary which employs intermittant reflexivity, I would
be happy to loan (or rent) you the only existing 16mm copy of "ONE HOUSE IN
HULL" (1975) 57 mins. 16mm comopt. B.W., if you can convince me that you
have a non-scratching Steenbeck or similar projector. As far as I remember
there is no VHS telecine.
It was made in the early days of refuges for battered women. The crew (all
men) lived in the refuge with the women for a number of weeks getting them
and their children used to the camera (NPR) and sound Nagra), and then
followed three of the stories. Occasionally the camera or recorder are
foregrounded, directly or indirectly. Then, a year later, after a fine cut
had been made, this was screened for the battered women, the female
organizers, and a number of invited City Councillors. In the ensuing
confrontation, in the screening space the documenting cameras again are not
hidden.
I screened this film a couple of years ago in Hartford CT and it stands up
rather well. The backwardness, at the time, of the Councillors, is marked.
My camerawork was, at times, rather good.
The film has intermittantly had useful screenings in Women's contexts, and
the BFI, in the late '70's, wanted to have the print in their archive as an
"important contribution to the British documentary."
Let me know if this is of interest in your context.
cordially
Dr. David Woods
HOLCUS
16 John Street
Kingston Square
Hull
HU2 8DH
tel. 01482 323421
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