Children and Cinema: whither Medders?

[thegooddoctor]

This must be the third or fourth article I've read about Mark Cousins' season of films about kids in movies and yet not one has mentioned Shane's films. Presumably that's because his work isn't included, but it still seems like a surprising omission when so much of his work has focussed so empathetically on children and "young adults"....

www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/03/children-in-films-finding-nemo

Thoughts?

[jill]

Long time replying. I was waiting to see Cousin's Story of Children and Film first-finally got around to it last night. There aren't any clips from Meadows films. To be fair, there's a lot of stuff that's omitted, which is inevitable I suppose, but Bill and I (we saw it together) both agreed that Room for Romeo Brass should have been included. Cousin's has some insightful (I think) things to say about class-another reason Shane should have got a nod.I suppose you could argue that Shane's preoccupations are more youth/young adults, but-yes-Romeo and Gavin and Shaun deserved some attention.

Omissions apart, it is lovely film-well worth seeing. The selection of clips pulled from the experiences and emotions of childhood, but with a discerning eye for composition and cinematography too. Some really beautiful stuff. Lot's of things I'd seen, but some things I haven't and I am now itching to see, including this:

www.cinemaofchildhood.com/palle-alone-in-the-world/

Quad (Derby) are showing a few, including this, as a follow up to the Cousin's film, so fingers crossed I will get to see it on the big screen. It seems mini-seasons of kids in film are happening all over Europe at the moment.

[thegooddoctor]

I guessed the film would be good - I met Mark Cousins once in Aberdeen and he's such a great guy: really friendly and so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about movies its terrifying. Accent to die for too, obviously.

Probably worth giving a nod here to Vicky Lebeau's excellent book "Childhood and Cinema" (2008) - a really fascinating read. Vicky also wrote an essay about children in Shane's film for the special issue of the Journal of British Cinema and Television.

[jill]

I don't have access to that journal, but at some point I'll track down the articles-I'd like to read all of them. Not all the films were made by female directors-obviously-but many were-e.g Campion's An Angel at my Table, Ramsay's Gasman, many Iranian films (of course). Cousin's comments on this. With that in mind, it's interesting that the book and article are by a female author.Not being essentialist-just interesting in terms of the worlds and stories that are brought to the fore.

Cousin's comes across as pretty grounded-passion rather than pretension. I think my daughter stalked him around Edinburgh for a while

[thegooddoctor]

I'd warn your daughter that he's a complete tart (albeit a very articulate tart) when he gets a bit pissed, as several 18-year-old barmaids working in the Belmont Street area of Aberdeen circa 2004 will attest...

[Bill Edwards]

Yes I very much enjoyed the film. I was a bit nervous as in the past I've found Cousins' vocal stylings a little bit grating but I needn't have worried as his passion and thoughtfulness and the connections he made were a wonder to behold. In the end I enjoyed his drawling, lilting accent too.

Although I think Meadows should have got a nod, especially as a shot of 400 Blows was included, I think Cousins mainly focused on children in film with that particular child's view of their surroundings. Meadows' children tend to be wise beyond their years and more like the alienated young-adults he tends to focus on. Although in ARFRB the two kids are as close to children with a childlike view of the world that Meadows has portrayed. A fine line. Just a thought there.

Is it known if Cousins likes Meadows' work?

Like Jill I definitely want to see many of the films that were shown. Palle Alone In The World for one.