The Girl in the Café

[raven]

I've just finished watching The Girl in the Café. I missed the beginning, but was suitably gripped after fifteen minutes to just watch it with my mouth hanging open. Written by Richard Curtis for the BBC's Africa Lives programming (I just got this from today's FT lying on the kitchn table) it's sort of what would happen if you crossed Lost In Translation with a Making Poverty History advert.

I don't know what to make of it, to be honest. I mention Lost In Translation because it has a lot of shared elements with that; older man, young girl, strange place, but also something about the tone of it, the detached, starkly lit aspect of it, reminded me. Bill Nighy was sublime as he is in just about everything, but the last role I saw him in was Slartibartfast which did take a moment's dislodging before I could watch this properly.

In short, it was gloriously written, well-acted, and raised a lot of very important issues - and certain aspects of it were really very good, especially the inconclusive, faintly distant ending, and the tragedy of the mini-love story (there's something really haunting about Bill Nighy muttering "Fuck you. Fuck you!" at a departing aircraft) - but something didn't quite sit right. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's subtlety, or lack thereof, all over again. Fewer statistics would have been nicer, because, really, the message was coming across loud and clear without them. I liked the nod to the real G8 summit at the end.

Interestingly, that may be where the Dalek ended up.

Edited to add: Or maybe not.

We return to revision and associated rambling tomorrow.

Comments

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

I've just finished watching it too. So very good. The relationship between Lawrence and Gina was quite tragic, but so were the statistics. The three second clicks at the end of the credits made me want to cry.
I now have that Damien Rice song, 'Cold Water' in my head.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

The clicks are a spectacularly effective touch. And that song was by Damien Rice too? I need his album.

And you. I definitely, definitely need you. xx

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

I'll copy the album for you, dear. It's very good.

I need you too. Quite a lot, actually. I've been thinking about you a lot. I did a little research about it, and worked out that I think of you approximately every three minutes. More when trying to revise. :)

What are you doing on Friday?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you!

*g* I love you. I do. I think of you when not thinking of proteins, transition metals or autonomic state government. You are the only thing I think about save those no doubt extremely worthy topics.

Sitting on a bench with you. If, you know, you can. We could have an actual date! With coffee and everything!

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

Friday morning = final yeargroup meeting, hopefully finishing around midday. After that - nothing to stop us drinking coffee and dating the day away! I shall look forward to it, and the thought shall keep me going during these last few days. Only three exams left.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Meet me in Liverpool? We can go to St James's, if it's sunny, and sit on the grass and stuff.

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

A wonderful idea. Let's hope the weather stays hot. It's a date. *snuggles*

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what this is, which may or may not be related to the lack of TV here. Do I need to buy it on DVD/ download it...?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It was just on BBC1. Definitely worth watching, if you can get hold of it.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

(God, I am soooo out of the loop it's embarassing, but. )

What is it...?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*g* Looky here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/africalives/features/girl.shtml)

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds interest8ing. I might see if i can find a copy - thanks!