Lift / Travellers / Calais: The Last Border
Three films by Marc Isaacs
UK 2001 / 2002 / 2003


Second Run are committed to presenting the work of important contemporary UK documentary filmmakers. Following our release of two films by Kim Longinotto, we are very happy to now present a special edition DVD of three films by Marc Isaacs.

Marc Isaacs worked as an assistant to acclaimed filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski, who encouraged Isaacs to make his own film. The result was Lift, and from that debut onwards Isaacs has revealed a great capacity to empathise with the protagonists of his films. Never judging by appearances, Isaacs’ skill at getting to know the characters becomes part of the narrative of the film, and their (and our) prejudices and preconceptions are challenged by the reality he finds.

Strong human characters are at the heart of all of Isaacs’ films and “he has quietly built a body of work that puts him amongst the most empathetic documentary observers we have of lives often overlooked” (Time Out). In these three films Isaacs creates a succession of deeply moving portraits, piecing together a unique vision of modern Britain.

The DVD will also contain a newly filmed interview with Marc Isaacs and booklet essays by Nick Fraser (Producer and Series Editor, BBC Storyville) and Graeme Hobbs.

There is now information about this release on the Coming Soon page of our website.

We admire Marc Isaacs' work and are really happy to be able to present it to you.

Just a reminder that we will be having a special Marc Isaacs event on Sunday 14th June at 12 Noon at the Curzon Soho cinema, London - a double-bill of his films plus a Q&A with Marc.

Very much in a humanist tradition, Marc's films are really quite special - Time Out have said: “[Isaacs] has quietly built a body of work that puts him amongst the most empathetic documentary observers we have of lives often overlooked”

The films screened will be his LIFT and CALAIS: THE LAST BORDER. Details on the films are at the Curzon Cinemas website.

Do try and come to this screening if you can - we look for your support in putting on such events. And, if you are there, do say hello to us.

DVD Times - perfect 10s for film and overall package.

Wow. After reading that review I genuinely cannot wait for this, has anyone here seen any of his stuff before??

Marc interviewed in Thursday's Times: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/directors/article6668545.ece

Graeme Hobbs at MovieMail has just put up this podcast about our MARC ISAACS Collection http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/scripts/podcast.pl?podcast=577

See Marc Isaacs' brilliant LIFT here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJNAvyLCTik

For those in the UK: Marc Isaac's 'Men in the City' is getting a couple of screenings on BBC Four over the weekend...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nnlk4

DVD Times have just posted Noel Megahey’s DVDs OF THE YEAR.
Of the five DVDs selected from the hundreds he has reviewed in 2009 - he's chosen our Marc Isaacs Collection/Lift-Travellers-Calais as one of those five! Delighted! http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/71959/noel-megaheys-top-5-dvds-of-2009.html