Made between 2003 and 2007 by the band Saint Etienne and filmmaker Paul Kelly (Lawrence of Belgravia), these three films document London's ever-changing environment and landscapes to music by the band. Available together on one DVD for the very first time, the films are supported by rare and previously unavailable short films.
Finisterre (2003, Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans): is a beautifully shot and edited homage to London featuring a host of London voices and soundtracked by songs from the Saint Etienne album of the same name.
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? (2005, Paul Kelly): explores the history of East London's Lower Lea Valley before it was redeveloped to become the Olympic Park.
This is Tomorrow (2007, Paul Kelly): documents the renovation and reopening of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Features interviews with the Hall's designers past and present.
Extras include
• Today's Special: a series of three shorts about London's disappearing cafes
• Banksy in London: made during a shoot for Finisterre, this short film documents some of the artist's work that is no longer situ.
• The Other South Bank: a companion piece to This is Tomorrow filmed on Teesside's South Bank
• Seven Summers: which revisits the Olympic site seven years on from the making of What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?.
• The DVD also includes an extensive booklet with newly commissioned essays
Out on the 15th of July.
A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
Moderator: MichaelB
- MichaelB
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A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
- antnield
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:59 pm
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Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
Saint Etienne released What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? as a limited edition DVD+CD release last year. It's an excellent film as I pointed out in my review for The Digital Fix.
- J Wilson
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:26 am
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Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
Already have the DVDs for Finisterre and Mervyn Day, but this will be worth it for everything else included.
- htshell
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:15 pm
Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
This is really excellent. I hosted Paul Kelly in Philadelphia for a screening of his documentary Take Three Girls: The Dolly Mixture Story. Saint Etienne is one of my favorite bands as well.
Presumably it will be released leading up to this:
Presumably it will be released leading up to this:
In September 2010 work began on a new archive based project by Paul Kelly and Saint Etienne entitled 'LDN' (originally 'This Is London') in collaboration with the BFI (British Film Institute) and Bedlam Productions (makers of 'The Kings Speech'). 'LDN' is the team's fourth portrait of London and is set to premiere in the autumn of 2013.
- antnield
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- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
Full specs announced:
A London Trilogy
The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
From a beautifully conceived film-poem and an imaginative exploration of the Lower Lea Valley to an uplifting documentary on a London landmark, the collaborations between electronic indie trio Saint Etienne and filmmaker Paul Kelly (Lawrence of Belgravia) document London's ever-changing environment and landscapes with music by the band. Released together by the BFI on one DVD for the first time, on 15 July 2013, the trilogy is accompanied by a selection of rare and previously unavailable short films.
Finisterre (2003), directed by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, is a homage to London featuring a host of well-known voices including Mark Perry, Julian Opie, Vic Godard and Lawrence who’ve made the capital their own, soundtracked by songs from the Saint Etienne album of the same name.
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? (2005) follows paperboy Mervyn Day on his round, tracing the fascinating hidden history of East London’s Lower Lea Valley in the years before it was redeveloped to become the Olympic Park. Guest voices include David Essex and Linda Robson.
Commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall to mark its renovation and grand reopening, This is Tomorrow (2007) lovingly records the immense labour and attention to detail that went into the refurbishment of one of London’s most distinguished concert venues. It features interviews with the Hall's designers, past and present as well as Jeremy Deller and Alain de Botton.
Special Features
• Banksy in London (2003): outtakes from Finisterre that document the artist’s work, some of which is no longer in situ;
• Today’s Special (2004): a series of three shorts about London’s disappearing cafés;
• Monty the Lamb (2006): a day in the life of Monty, mascot for North London’s Hendon FC;
• The Other South Bank (2008): a look at Teeside’s South Bank;
• Seven Summers (2012): Sarah Cracknell narrates this follow up to What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?, which revisits the Lea Valley seven years on;
• Illustrated booklet with an introduction by Paul Kelly and new essays by Bob Stanley, Sukhdev Sandhu, Owen Hatherley and Tom Dyckhoff.
Product Details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD944 / Cert PG
UK / 2003 + 2005 + 2007 / colour / English / 59 + 45 + 54 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratios 1.78:1 (16x9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital mono 2.0 audio (256 kbps)
- manicsounds
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Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
This is not going Hidef? It seems to be a shame that St. Etienne's music is going to be relegated to plain ol' Dolby mono audio....
- htshell
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:15 pm
Re: A London Trilogy: The Films of Saint Etienne 2003-2007
I believe the films were shot on SD video so I would think that's the justification.
- MichaelB
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- antnield
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:59 pm
- Location: Cheltenham, England