End of Empire Season
3rd – 30th November 2011
BFI Southbank, London
The British Empire was often portrayed on film as an exotic playground for tales of adventure and derring-do until the 1950s when political intrigue and social drama crept into the safari-suited swagger. BFI Southbank explores the way British Cinema marked the End of Empire with a season of screenings and special events.
Highlights of the season include well known feature classics like Zulu (USA 1963), rarer gems such Windom’s Way (1957) and a new print from the BFI National Archive of The Planter’s Wife (1952). Each screening will be accompanied by short films that illustrate the fraught political climate of the Empire during it’s final moments.
The season coincides with the release in November of two books published by BFI/Palgrave entitled Empire & Film and Film and the End of Empire. From the earliest days of cinema, filmmakers were fascinated with the British Empire. A fertile source of mystery, pageantry and adventure, British Cinema revelled in showing domestic audiences exotic images from the Empire. But the films rarely strayed from an imperialist agenda. Often one-sided and fiercely patriotic, the documentaries, features and news films from this era contain repeated images of representation that are very problematic.
After World War II, with spirits high and cinemas full, British film resumed its love affair with the colonies, rediscovering the glamour of the British Empire in the glow of a new national optimism. With a heady blend of colourful vistas, wild beasts, dangerous escapades and torrid romances, the Empire was a veritable Jewel in the Crown for post-war filmmaking exploits.
Screenings in the End of Empire Season
Bhowani Junction
17 Nov 18:20 NFT1
19 Nov 20:40 NFT3
Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger star in this love story set on eve of India’s independence.
Guns At Batasi
24 Nov 20:30 NFT3
29 Nov 18:00 NFT3
Richard Attenborough gives a terrific performance as a British major struggling with the end of the Empire.
Projecting the Archive: Man of Africa
11 Nov 18:10 NFT3
Drama documentary about a relocated Ugandan tribe.
Millions Like Us
22 Nov 14:00 NFT1
Moving wartime portrait of life on the homefront.
The Planter’s Wife
4 Nov 20:40 NFT2
6 Nov 16:00 NFT2
Colonial action movie starring Claudette Colbert.
Simba
5 Nov 18:20 NFT2
9 Nov 18:00 NFT2
Love story set against the backdrop of the Mau Mau emergency.
Where No Vultures Fly
4 Nov 14:00 NFT2
8 Nov 20:40 NFT2
Vivid Technicolor drama set in the East African savannah.
Windom’s Way
21 Nov 20:40 NFT2
30 Nov 18:10 NFT2
Stirring colonial drama set against the backdrop of Malaysia’s struggle for independence.
Zulu
3 Nov 18:15 NFT1
9 Nov 20:15 NFT1
Epic retelling of the defence of Rorke’s Drift.
COMPETITION:
Closing Date: THIS IS NOW CLOSED – THE WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL
Thanks to our friends at the BFI, we have 3 pairs of tickets to give away.
Winners can pick which film and at which time they would like to attend – anytime between 8th-30th November. Films included in the competition are:
Windom’s Way, Millions Like Us, Projecting the Archive: Man of Africa, Guns At Batasi, Bhowani Junction, Simba (9th), Zulu (9th)
Please note the competition runs until 9am next Monday! Screenings that are before then are not included in the competition. If you would like to see certain films that are screening earlier in the month, please buy a ticket to ensure you get to go!
To count yourself with a chance of winning, join us on facebook then just send us an email with your name, contact details and the answer to this simple question:
In which year was the prequel Zulu Dawn released?
a) 1979
b) 1982
c) 1985
If you think you know just email you answer to competitions@frontrowreviews.co.uk
View our competition Terms and Conditions
MORE INFO:
BFI – website
