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Front Row: The Hermit of Treig film and Anne Tyler's novel French Braid reviewed; Erich Hatala Matthes on art and morality

24/03/2022

The Hermit of Treig film and Anne Tyler's novel French Braid reviewed; Erich Hatala Matthes on art and morality

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, The Hermit of Treig film and Anne Tyler's novel French Braid reviewed; Erich Hatala Matthes on art and morality

The Hermit of Treig, a film following a man who spent four decades living in a log cabin.

The Hermit of Treig documentary and Anne Tyler's novel French Braid reviewed; philosopher Erich Hatala Matthes on art and morality.

Critics Viv Groskop and Hanna Flint review The Hermit of Treig, a documetary film made by Lizzie Mackenzie who follows Ken Smith, a man who has spent the past four decades living in a log cabin nestled near Loch Treig, known as 'the lonely loch' – an intimate and warm picture of a man whose choice of the hermit life becomes more challenging as he ages.

Anne Tyler’s latest novel, French Braid, is sure to be welcomed by her legions of fans.  As always, it’s the story of a Baltimore family - this time she follows their foibles over the decades.  Her books are praised for their deceptively simple style hiding a world of complexity and insight.  Viv and Hanna assess whether – at age 80 - this is a vintage story from the novelist.  

In his book Drawing the Line, philosopher Erich Hatala Matthes explores the relationship between artworks of all kinds and the morality of the minds behind them. Are our aesthetic views tainted by the knowledge that the artist is unethical or immoral? How should we react? Should we boycott or ban them based on the views or behaviour of the creators? Erich joins Tom Sutcliffe to discuss the dilemmas raised by these issues.

Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe
Producer: Harry Parker

Photo: Ken Smith in a still from the film The Hermit of Treig Credit: Aruna Productions

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