The most heartwarming success story of this year’s Cannes has been the ecstatic reception given to Of Time And The City, Liverpool-born film-maker Terence Davies’ elegaic love letter to the place he grew up in. Despite worldwide acclaim for award winners such as Distant Voices, Still Lives, Davies hasn’t been able to get backing for a film for eight years, and he entered a public competition in Liverpool to win the tiny £250,000 budget for this new one. A documentary narrated by Davies, the film was selected for Cannes, and has been greeted with critical raves across the board. “A masterwork,” said Hollywood Reporter. “An outstanding work,” offered Screen International. “Entrancing,” declared Variety. I moderated a panel discussion with Davies this morning, hence this snap of us together on the beach. Of Time And The City will premiere as part of Liverpool’s 2008 City Of Culture celebrations this autumn, and then go on national release.
heat’s Film Editor Charles Gant is at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.