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15 Mar 11 - 09:51 AM (#3114129) Subject: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: GUEST,glueman Interesting film from 1970 about a folk lifestyle: The Moon and the Sledgehammer |
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15 Mar 11 - 01:47 PM (#3114306) Subject: RE: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: michaelr Wow, that looks fascinating. Thanks for posting. |
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15 Mar 11 - 02:17 PM (#3114325) Subject: RE: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: GUEST,glueman A great aunt of mine, who died about the time this film was made, lead a very similar existence, alone in the same cottage for sixty years with Victorian technology. I can just remember her and her conversation was mostly pre-WW1 when she was young. The modern world barely impinged on her life beyond a vapour trail in the sky. |
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16 Mar 11 - 04:03 AM (#3114760) Subject: RE: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: GUEST,Jon Dudley This is highly recommended. The website has DVDs for sale of this interesting film. Whilst it has no 'folk music' content it documents the way of life of surely the most eccentric family in Sussex. I suppose you'd call it 'Steampunk' most literally in the current vernacular. What sets it apart from the documentaries of the time (circa 1971) is the unusually high quality of the film making and the many questions it poses about the characters themselves; no wonder when you check the CVs of the makers. The interviewer is never heard above an occasional whisper and some of the shots are stunning in their beautiful simplicity. The film has been cult viewing for many over the years and I first saw it in Brighton as a support film for 'The Wild Angels' would you believe. When we went to Pinewoods in 1996 (I think it was) we took a copy and showed it there - reactions were varied from incredulous to charmed to "I hope that the social services are looking after these people". Most could not believe that it was possible to live such a life in England...we've learned since that it is definitely possible to live that life in remoter parts of the US! The nearest I've seen to this production from the USA is 'My brother's keeper' - a movie documentary covering very serious matters -it had a huge effect on Bob Copper. Buy a copy of The Moon and the Sledegehammer- it's marvellous. |
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16 Mar 11 - 04:08 AM (#3114765) Subject: RE: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: GUEST,Jon Dudley Oh, I forgot to mention that we knew the people in the documentary. The boys' uncle, Len Page himself led an extraordinary steam-centered life from his showman's living van in Falmer just over the road from Sussex Univesity!...no electricity, sanitation or running water. But that's another story and you can read about him in 'Songs and Southern Breezes'. |
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16 Mar 11 - 06:13 AM (#3114824) Subject: RE: The Moon and the Sledgehammer From: GUEST,glueman I hadn't thought of TMATS as seminal steampunk but you're absolutely right. My suspicion is more people than are recognised lived independent and continuous 'folk' lifestyles at that period, which may give the lie to 'traditional' as a sealed, past tense entity. |