Thursday, 26 February 2026

The lady from Senegal

 

Femme Ouolofe (Sénégal) en marche avec poids sur sa tête (1895)

Directed by Etienne-Jules Marey and Felix Regnault this is an early short film. A Senegalese woman walks past the camera.


Another blink and you will miss it affair. Pretty decent image quality for what there is. No doubt a slice of history but not much more.


3/5

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Hard carried

 

Félix Regnault assis sur un palanquin porté par des malgaches au pas (1895)


Directed by Felix Regnault and Etienne-Jules Marey this is an early short film. A man is carried on a palanquin by two men.


Not much more than a couple of seconds long, you do not get a lot of time to take things in. I suppose not terrible for what it is. Decent image quality.


2/5

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Title for days

 

Démarche de Musulmans de Saint-Louis, Exposition Ethnographique de L’Afrique Occidentale à Paris (1895)


Directed by Felix Regnault, Charles Comte and Etienne-Jules Marey this is an early short film. Three men walk across the frame.


A little on the quick side to really be able to take in the details of the three figures in the film. The camera is also a little far away from the subjects in my opinion. Still a nice piece of history.


3/5

Monday, 23 February 2026

Oscar on his way again

 

Marche en Flexion (Oscar de Raoul)


Directed by Felix Regnault, Charles Comte and Etienne-Jules Marey this is an early short film. A man goes for a walk again.


Much like other walking films from the same people. Pretty good image quality. Not quite ministry of silly walks yet.


3/5

Sunday, 22 February 2026

Suits you sir

 

The Tailor of Panama (2001)


Directed by John Boorman this film based on the novel of the same name stars Geoffrey Rush, Pierce Brosnan and Jamie Lee Curtis. An MI6 agent exiled to Panama tries to drum up some attention with the help of a tailor.


Going down the satirical route means I think this film has a bit less bite than some of le Carre's other stuff. Lots of fun thanks to the cast. Nice to see Brosnan as a real bastard.


3/5

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Cheaters never win

 

The Constant Gardener (2005)


Directed by Fernando Meirelles this film based on the novel of the same name stars Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. A British diplomat in Kenya investigates the murder of his activist wife.


Well done with a thoroughly depressing mood through out. Having seen a lot of le Carre adaptations I could do without the writer's obsession with testing his characters on infidelity but otherwise a great look at the abuse of drug trials and the life of two people. Really good performances from the cast, as always Pete Postlethwaite moves mountains in a tiny part.


4/5

Friday, 20 February 2026

Running Raoul

 

Course en Flexion (Oscar de Raoul) (1895)


Directed by Felix Regnault, Charles Comte and Etienne-Jules Marey this is an early short film. A man runs through the shot.


Unusual for a film to have three credited directors, makes you wonder what they all did when it is only a second long. Decent image quality and framing. Survives surprisingly well for the age of the film.


3/5