lesgrice

I had known for a couple of years that Mr. Wilkinson was in the throes of trying to get this documentary made, though the original conception I believe was eighteen years old altogether. I had done some 'magpie' research regarding The Holocaust myself and had questioned the how and why's of how a whole nation seemingly had turned into a huge killing machine and similarly the virus of Nazism had been transmitted across Europe, so much so that thousands of others had been either been recruited or volunteered themselves for the most terrible of crimes against humanity. The 'mystery' of the how's and whys are revealed here in this most extensive and painful documentary. It makes for difficult viewing and lays out as clearly as it can the whole gamut of what happened and the reasons why millions of innocent Jews and others were eliminated and how only 1 percent of those responsible were ever put on trial. You will have to watch it for yourselves to untangle the whole terrible web of horror and the equally terrible injustice not given to the Jewish people after the war. One thing you can take away from it is the warning that we have so often been given. How ordinary men (for these were not monsters) turned their back on their fellow man, murdered innocent men women and children for a toxic belief in the hateful dogma of the other being inferior and different to you and amounting to no more than the life of a beetle you would crush beneath your feet and that these same people could then return back to civilian life and allowed to live out their lives, a luxury not afforded to their victims.

A true life fairy tale that explores what so many people experience, the odd couple in a new town wanting desperately to make friends and become accepted, but find themselves lured by the wicked side of those around them to do things they think they must do and the consequences that human beings can lead others into when they enjoy making them unhappy rather than choosing love and the unhappiness and and truths that this brings home. Remarkable debut for someone who had never directed on this scale before and a thought provoking movie everyone should see, especially parents and schoolchildren.

It stopped me in my tracks. Literally, The First Film stopped me in my tracks. In 2015 I planned my annual trip to Paris and intended to take a high-speed train to visit the Lumiere museum in Lyon, home of the 'first film'. So I thought. Then I got wind of this intriguing story about the origin of moving images coming from, well, of all places. Silly, I know, but although of course I have no doubt the Lumiere museum is a wonderful treasure trove, it seemed it could take the edge off being it's true home. (I went to Nancy instead, home of Art Nouveau) The First Film is obviously a life's work and ambition, propelled by more than a dash of a desire to get to the truth, no matter how unpalatable that may be to those who have a view of history that is set in stone. It's a beautifully constructed piece of detective work and leads to many avenues and has many fascinating twists and turns, not so much of 'Who do you think you are' rather 'What links us to who we are'. Of course I will not reveal any details, but there is intrigue, mystery, revelations abound and dastardly deeds too and it comes with an added dash of unexpected humour which is not scripted and all the better for it. It's wide ranging in it's locations but yet so close to home that one can't help feel sorry for those who long for the romance of the French tales or the genius of the U.S.A. entrepreneur driven stories, and yet, and yet. Louis le Prince has by his own genius reached through time by turning money into light and in turn Mr. Wilkinson has mirrored him and shed light on history. History will judge and form it's own opinion, but David has added his own unique perspective to movie history and I am certain Louis and all of us will be grateful that someone cared for him and us.