Reviews
Great Artists with Tim Marlow (2001)
Great series and brilliant presenter
Tim Marlow is such a good presenter of art. He unpicks the most intricate detail in a piece of work and explains the stories within a painting that otherwise would go unexplained. I really enjoy the historical context which gives a picture of the life and times of the artist. And of course where would we be without Marlow's explanation of the technical skill and immense talent of the artists? When there's so much dross on TV these days, it's great to have a series like this on DVD at your fingertips. The second series features 13 artists including Caravaggio, Constable, Holbein, Stubbs and Rodin, so that will be next on my to buy list.
The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan (2004)
Amazing film
A truly moving documentary about a young boy called Mir living among the ruins of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Mir is so charismatic and a joy to watch and is always smiling despite everything he and his family have been through. I have yet to see the recently released "Buddhas Collapsed out of Shame" which has also received great reviews but I would really recommend watching "The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan" You can make a donation to Mir at http://www.theboymir.com/. The follow-up is currently in development so I'm really looking forward to it being released. It will be really interesting to see the transition from boy to young man and whether his attitude has changed.
In Search of Mozart (2006)
Brilliant documentary
I thought In Search of Mozart was an outstanding documentary, not only did it feature some great musicians it also took the viewer on a journey through Mozart's life which I found insightful and comprehensive. I would loved to have seen more performances from the contributors maybe as an bonus on the DVD yet saying that the DVD is just over two hours long so its deffiently worth the money. I noticed on Director Phil Grabsky's IMDb profile that In Search of Beethoven is currently in production which i'm really looking forward to. Does anyone have any idea when it is going to be released? It would be great to see it on the big screen.
Escape from Luanda (2007)
A Brilliant Documentary
I watched this documentary when it was aired on More 4 last year and was thoroughly impressed. The documentary really captures the determination Alfredo, Domingas and Joana have with their music despite the struggles they face on a personal and social level. The film manages to be funny and moving as well as being a useful insight into Angola. It would be really interesting to know how Alfredo, Domingas and Joana are doing now. Is there a follow up in the pipeline? If you liked this documentary then i would recommend "We Are Together" which follows the story of the children's choir at the Agape orphanage in South Africa, a very inspirational film.