266. Arcadia; movie review

ARCADIA
Cert 12A
78 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, bloody images, moderate threat

The British Film Institute's promotional blurb describes Arcadia as "a very strange trip indeed".
It isn't kidding.
The BFI tends to distribute movies which are away from the norm - therefore, I saw its description of Paul Wright's movie as a warning of style over substance.
In a way that is true but Wright, aside of his apparent obsession with naked dancing and prancing, has evoked some wonderful memories of old England.
Arcadia, backed by a soundtrack from Portishead's Adrian Utley and Goldfrapp's Will Gregory, explores the connection between man and the land and how that relationship has broken down over the past century.
There are reminders of the style of Mark Cousins' work I Am Belfast which has a common producer in John Archer but even more similarities with Cousins' A Story Of Children And Film.
However, unlike Cousins' films which have contemplative narratives, it relies on the snatches of commentary of selected footage to make its point about how we have become divorced from the land and even our humanity.
It highlights an England which has drifted from being green and pleasant to one of inner city poverty.
To hammer home his point, Wright leans heavily on footage of naked cavorting in the countryside. Indeed, I was surprised at how much recorded nudity there had been in the past.
The problems with Wright's film are twofold.
Firstly, it will be far too unstructured for some. There are abstract insertions which I didn't understand and I doubt many others will.
Secondly, Wright's assertions are too simplistic. Industrialisation and the migration of people from country to cities happened much earlier than he suggests.
However, his overall points about us needing to be closer to nature and losing our eccentric English identity both hold true.
I was torn over it - and that is why I have given it 6/10

Reasons to watch: Some evocative images of Britain's past
Reasons to avoid: It is very surreal at times

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 6/10

Director quote - Paul Wright: "The power of images and sound and how they rub up against each other to create different meanings and emotions is my main passion in film-making."

The big question - Was life happier when it was simpler?

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