I don’t know about you but it has just occurred to me that during the last few days of our almost-self-isolation, we have been eating better than ever before. Is it the careful meal-planning? Or maybe just the fact that Mr Guylty is at home – and he is a better cook? 😂 So, today’s update: I have muted any keyword connected to “virus”, “covid” and “corona” on Twitter because for the first time in my life I am beginning to understand what “anxiety” is and how it is fuelled by the information overload. We’ve been told what to do, we are doing what we can – a lot of the rest is TMI for me. I need to get on as normal as possible and *not* panic. Basta.
And the first order of the day is – continuing the Distraction Challenge.
2. Which film/series do of Richard’s you think is underrated?
I am going the obvious route with this one. Urban and the Shed Crew. It is underrated in the sense that it never received the uptake it should have when it was first presented to the public via Leeds Film Festival in 2015. And upon its second premiere at Newcastle Film Festival in 2018, it even came away with an award for Richard as best actor, as well as the People’s Choice Award for the best film. It baffles me to this day that no one – no film distributor, no TV channel, no streaming provider – snapped this film up. Granted, it is not a comedy, and it deals with society’s margin groups – and therefore not a crowd pleaser as such. But it never even received the chance to become a critical success. And I don’t think that the later legal issues that are apparently still keeping the film out of distribution, applied back in 2015. But it has everything a compelling film needs – an emotionally affecting story, a heroic main character, sympathetic characters, a relatable setting, a competent film maker, a bestseller book it is based on – and a talented leading man with a name worthy of spelling in big letters on the poster.
My verdict in 2015 was “that this is a story worth telling and the film is a great attempt at raising awareness for the ongoing problems it addresses. It stays faithful to the real life story, a few changes in sequence notwithstanding, and it takes great care to depict the real, living protagonists fairly, respectfully and with sympathy. This is not a finger-pointing film – it makes no judgment on the victims, but tells their story. Appropriate and commendable. The characters are discernibly the real people Hare described in his book, and despite leaving out some of the central problems of the real shed crews’ existence (early sexualisation and prostitution), the hardship of their lives in underprivileged circumstances and under threat of drug abuse is unflinchingly presented. While I would have preferred a grittier realisation of the story, the more conventional approach of the film-maker might make the film more susceptible (and digestible) to a mainstream audience. Ultimately, that is the goal – by packaging the challenging story and its difficult themes in a smooth, digestible format, more people may be reached and distribution could be widened. It is to be hoped that a distributor will be found – or that the film will be picked up by a TV channel where it ultimately might sit better than in an art house scenario.”
I stand by that.
Second order of the day: Have you seen all those wonderful videos of Italians singing across their balconies to keep the morale up? Well, Ireland doesn’t really have (that many) balconies, but that doesn’t keep us from sharing music.
Sorry about the (lack of) sound – it was too windy up there on the second floor. That’s my son in self-isolation (because one of his flatmates was at a party on Friday where he came in contact with a girl whose mother was subsequently tested positive), playing for the passers-by. Not that there are many now… The show must go on!
Guylty Pleasure 
My vote for underrated is North and South. If it had been broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (the channel for British costume dramas in the U.S.) in 2004, RA would have been famous in the U.S. since then.
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Good point – the answer to this question could definitely vary from territory to territory.
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I have accepted your challenge! (Like we didn’t think I would???? Lol!)
Good to see how people are occupying their time. I’m all for music on the balcony!
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Great! The more the merrier. That applies both to the challenge *and* to music on the balcony!
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I love the music on the balcony!!!!
Right now, I’m gathering up my materials for ‘work at home’. Apparently, I have to actually show where I worked 8 hours a day.
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Just picked up youngest from the Airport she had only arrived in Lisbon on Saturday but because of the situation she feared if she didn’t come back today she might be stuck there.
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Huh, how come I didn’t answer this comment. Glad to know your daughter came back in time!
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Industrial alcohol prices have tripled ( according to eldest daughter, it’s used in the print trade) the government should step in to stop profiteering.
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We will be eating better too just because after a week we will start eating our way through the freezer where stuff gets put when it’s not convenient to eat it from the fridge. We had a nice beef borscht yesterday from there. Next will be chuck roast.
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Bon appétit!
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We haven’t even dug into the preserved foods yet – except for a jar of red cabbage which we had with spuds and Frikadellen last night. (Ugh, I can’t bring myself to translating Frikadellen into English – burgers is just so not what they are…)
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yeah, they’re more like meatloaf patties. Depending on what’s in yours, I would probably say meatballs.
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Meatballs! That’s the word that I couldn’t remember. Definitely more fitting!
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My exSO’s imaginary friend as a child was called “FrikadellA”. Always makes me smile.
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😂That’s hilarious! Frikadella. So, the imaginary friend was a girl?
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Yeah. She was very adventurous and not afraid of anything, including things that D. would not normally do. Very interesting to watch. She hung around (that I was aware of) for about eight months.
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😂
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All London theatre closed, just made the announcement.
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That’s really good to hear. Good decision!
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Useful info, thanks, Eve.
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An opportunity now for Richard to record that stack of new titles he mentioned?
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The shutdown is necessary, but I’m disappointed for those who will miss their chance to see the play.
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Same here. It really is so unfortunate.
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That would be ideal!
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So if the theatre is closed…but not booked for another show until May…and if people are still allowed to travel in London…can’t the cast go in and perform it to cameras, meaning a film crew, with an empty house? Will someone pleeeeeeeeezzzze make this happen!!!
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I would have loved for that to happen, but Digital Theatre is definitely not doing it. They responded to several tweets and said no 😞
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Oh. It sounded promising to begin with when they said they were looking into it. 🙁
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Well, actually, I have to amend what I said. They haven’t really said ‘no’ but they keep saying they don’t have UV on offer, but we could watch RA in TC…
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I absolutely agree with your choice. Urban is a gem of a film that was sorely underrated. I did manage to see it when we had that small window of opportunity to rent it. I only hope that once the legal issues are resolved, it gets picked up again for distribution. I would rather have the option to purchase the dvd but at this point I’d be happy to see it on the small screen in a format that allowed it to be recorded. Ah! Nice to have a balcony overlooking a talented musician son. 😉
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A DVD would be great, I have to say. I would like to watch it again, and now would be the time to do it.
Hehe, and no balcony on my house, just a window to lean out of.
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Sometimes being a little drama queens is nice! We don’t have a lot of neigbors, except the local hospital, so we expone flags and candles. North and South is underrated; albeit it was broadcast several times there isn’t an italian version dvd. My copy is in english with english subtitles. No N&S marathon with my sister, who studied french at school!
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Agree, outside of the UK North & South definitely didn’t get the exposure it should have.
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🙂 French studies , great news, my congratulations to her!
“North and South” is unknowned here. It could be compared to French movies inspired by Emile Zola’s saga. And the DVD French version is a calamity: too many cuts, the plot is incomprehensible.
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Wow, they re-edited NS for the French market? That’s a crime!
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(: Just an old version for drama ‘s addicts
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