The Magic of Powell and Pressburger
FROM 21 Oct
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were very different people, but they shared a sensibility and an aesthetic, an entire conception of cinema, that was uniquely their own.
The Englishman and the Hungarian became the Archers, writers, directors and producers of some of the most imaginative and romantic British films ever made, including classics I Know Where I’m Going! (1945), A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948).
This illustrated talk from freelance critic, curator and film historian Pamela Hutchinson will explore the roots of their partnership, their unique creative dynamic, which Powell described as a “marriage without sex”, and how they pushed boundaries on screen through the war years and beyond with a series of vivid, occasionally terrifying films that continue to inspire and enchant audiences today.
We will discuss their distinctive visual style, technical and artistic brilliance and the shimmering touches of magic that bring their films to life.
Pamela Hutchinson’s analysis of ‘The Red Shoes’, the latest in the BFI Classics series, is published in October.
Sat 21 Oct 10:30 – In the Auditorium
Screening as part of Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.
See also:
BLACK NARCISSUS
I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING
