Of Ti­me and the Ci­ty

“To celebrate the honorary title of European Capital of Culture, Liverpool, once a brilliant commercial metropolis almost ruined by Thatcherism, wanted a portrait of its most famous filmmaker son. Davies lived up to expectations in his most idiosyncratic way – not. His film essay embraces his hometown tenderly, then wipes away the make-up. He shows past misery, architectural ugliness, the poverty of the proletariat, he ignores the glory days and talks about the city in which he grew up and how." (Alexandra Seitz, Viennale 2021)«What is remarkable is the composition of the archive images with a soundtrack that ranges from classic to popular - and sets idiosyncratic counterpoints. What makes Of Time and the City unique, however, is Davies’ voice and his voice-over commentary. His 'Yeah, yeah, yeah' in reference to the city's famous sons is a must-have, and when he makes dry mockery of the start of the 'Betty Windsor Show' in 1947, even as a 'born-again atheist' you thank God for this humor." (DOK.fest Munich, 2009)74 min. / color + bw / 35 mm / E/d*