Powell and Pressburger: Poetic Patriotism

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Archive on 4: Powell and Pressburger: Poetic Patriotism

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Powell and Pressburger: Poetic Patriotism

On groundbreaking film-makers Powell and Pressburger and their unique take on Britain.

Powell and Pressburger were described by Martin Scorsese as 'the most experimental film-makers of all time'. Poetic Patriotism explores their bold take on Britain, warts and all.

Powell and Pressburger were the most fearless of British filmmakers, once described by Martin Scorsese as ‘the most experimental moviemakers of all time’.  The pair - Hungarian-Jewish screenwriter Emeric Pressburger who fled the Nazis across Europe to London, and English director Michael Powell - made masterpieces that dazzle to this day. 

From their work, filmmaker Carol Morley draws out their response to Britishness, one that was affectionate yet clear-eyed, never blind to our collective faults.  She unearths their extraordinary collaboration with each other, as well as other trailblazing creatives – designers, cinematographers and actors - that formed a collective known as The Archers. Between them, they made more than 20 films from the 1930s onwards.

We reappraise some of their greatest classics, including A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes, A Canterbury Tale and I Know Where I’m Going! The programme includes interviews with Tilda Swinton, Ian Christie and Sandy Powell, as well as powerful archive from Lenny Henry and Martin Scorsese. 

A major BFI UK-wide celebration of Powell and Pressburger takes place this Autumn, Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell and Pressburger, with screenings and events until the end of the year.

Presented by Carol Morley
Produced by Tim Moorhouse
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

Picture Credit
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger on set of Oh… Rosalinda!!, photo by Ronnie Pilgrim © 1955 Estate of Michael Powell/BFI National Archive

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