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London

  • 1994
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
814
YOUR RATING
London (1994)
Documentary

An inspiring tale through London by pictures narrated by Paul Scofield.An inspiring tale through London by pictures narrated by Paul Scofield.An inspiring tale through London by pictures narrated by Paul Scofield.

  • Director
    • Patrick Keiller
  • Writer
    • Patrick Keiller
  • Stars
    • Paul Scofield
    • John Major
    • Norma Major
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    814
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Patrick Keiller
    • Writer
      • Patrick Keiller
    • Stars
      • Paul Scofield
      • John Major
      • Norma Major
    • 11User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast5

    Edit
    Paul Scofield
    Paul Scofield
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    John Major
    John Major
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Norma Major
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Dennis Skinner
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    Alastair Stewart
    Alastair Stewart
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Patrick Keiller
    • Writer
      • Patrick Keiller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.3814
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    Featured reviews

    7Mansilla

    A very clever diary of London in 1992

    This is the first of the two travelogues of our anonymous commentator and his companion Robinson, the second one being the awesome Robinson in Space.

    Essentially this is a travelogue of London in 1992. It concentrates on locations and issues within London precious to the commentator, and also on the political and social events of the time. The film is shot mostly as stills of the locations visited, and is very well observed. One sequence which lingers for me is the film of the aftermath of the IRA bombs in the City of London at that time, which are eerily beautiful.

    The election of 1992 is recorded and commented upon, and the monarchy dont escape unscathed. The writer is very very obviously a socialist, and the commentary is heavily 'Old Labour', but is in turns informative, witty, and thought provoking.

    It attempts some major social points, but is preaching to the converted somewhat, this is definitely for the Art House Crowd - You would never see this at a Multiplex. However, is good to see it on film

    I gave this 8/10, but Robinson in Space got 10. If you get the chance to see either, do, opportunities are few and far between, and it's made in a very unusual and exiting style.
    scotiaviewer

    Woke

    Woke before its time. Reeks of politics and identity politics. Lovey-leftism at its best - pure Fabianism. Of course the BFI love it. Interesting how the IRA issue has evaporated - largely due to terrorism becoming associated with other groups, I expect. A star for the images of London and a star for the idea.
    1alleycat8

    Atmospheric, painful, and occasionally loathsome

    I'm sorry, I know I am in the minority, but I really didn't get this doc-montage-essay, for all its wit and cleverness, and lush photography, and even lusher soundtrack, I felt I was being soundly manipulated by the filmmaker into seeing London as a political and spiritual wasteland. Yes, this film is, I suppose, artistically good, I felt some of the narration was poignant, and resonant of an underlying angst that many people experience in London, which can be isolating. Still, the haughty, droning voice of the narrator, really put me off. The simplistic dichotomy of labour versus conservatives, one good, the other doom laden, an insult to my intelligence, and the lack of voice within the film, apart from the writer's insistent polemic, was by far the most meaningful element. The film approves itself, and obliterates all dissent.
    7jerbar2004

    A personal film essay thats flows well

    This film has a hypnotic feel to it, the narrator fits the scene as well as the music. The photography is good to supered. The film maker seem to be on a quest for something, but we don't know what. The images do linger, and the sense of London being a comusuming monster works well. We never see the film maker giving the film a hidden depth,and the narrator makes many references to a unknown person (who lives in Vauxhall). We see a familiar London, but also (and this is the clever part) a strange London. The route master bus for instance, so common, but in this film a strange object - maybe from outer space. I just simply enjoyed in. It nice to see a personal film like this being made, but wonders, who was the film made for? And where could this film be shown. As Lonodn continues to change over this film will become more and more remarkable.
    1gazzolaaria

    Big words and loads of references do not equal an intelligent, well-argued point.

    This is simply awful.

    It's very pretentious. Constant references to artists and philosophers, even though they are irrelevant to prove the point the narrator is trying to make. Use of the french language for no other reason than trying to sound "fancy".

    Some pretty shots, like the recurring theme of water, that was good.

    Extreme manipulation of the events that happened in 1992. Conservatives win the election and right after the IRA bombing is shown, almost suggesting that the bombing was a response to the result.

    Constantly criticizing the monarchy and conservative supporters. Making it hard to classify this as an excursion film. If it was up to me, I would put this in the "*Author complains for 1 hour and a half straight through its characters about the world he lives in and blames SOCIETY" genre. Yep, its one of those wE LIvE in A sOCieTY BS movies.

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    Related interests

    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shot over a period of 11 months in 1992.
    • Goofs
      In the end-credits, the film mentions music by the "Columbian" (rather than Colombian) Carnival Association.
    • Quotes

      Narrator: 'London,' he says, 'is a city under siege from a sub-urban government, which uses homelessness, pollution, crime, and the most expensive and run-down public transport system of any metropolitan city in Europe, as weapons against Londoners' lingering desire for the freedoms of city life.'

    • Connections
      Followed by Robinson in Space (1997)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 3, 1994 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Лондон
    • Filming locations
      • Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Hendon, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • BFI Production
      • Koninck Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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