Salient Film

[MN FILMS]

Some of you may have seen the thread on The Salient film narrated by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in the Western Front section, but some of you may not know about it so here some additional information. Actually I was expecting at one point to announce here that the film would be broadcast in the UK on this or that channel, but British broadcasters are far too busy looking for treasure in out-of-the way auctions, renovating homes or, in case you missed it, telling us what to cook tonite, so none have found the time to screen the film, even though it is a pretty powerful production. Or, as the BBC just told me "we have done SO much First World War programming, we are in danger of driving our audiences away from it. " Pardon me, but that sounds like a pretty lame, if not hypocritical, excuse but I am probably been a bit too sensitive about this. Anyway, all this to say that those of you who would like to take a look will have to screen it on Vimeo, where we placed Part 1 of the film -- see https://vimeo.com/110822321 . There's a Part 2 as well -- if interested you may have to order the DVD, either from Amazon (see http://www.amazon.co.uk/THE-SALIENT-Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes/dp/B00S3KOTF6 ) or directly from the producers at www.mnfilms.be . Price there is 12,50 euro incl. S&H worldwide -- a bit over 9 pounds.

Not everyone likes this film because it is not the typical WW1 narrator-drive documentary but it is worth taking a look. The first 8 shots, set to the tolling of the Ypres Belfry clock, tell you immediately that you, the viewer, are being invited to a service, or a tribute, and that this tribute will be held in the temple-like setting of the Menin Gate. The Last Post serves as book-ends to the film, but check out the difference between the opening Last Post, with the soldiers still in freshly pressed uniforms and the final one, with the horrors of what they witnessed now etched in their faces and reflected in their eyes. In between we see and hear their story -- a story that should never be forgotten and that is rightly commemorated every evening at eight. Good thing the audience there is in no danger of being driven away from that ...

[healdav]

I was told in 2010 that the BBC was not really interested in programme suggestions about WW1 as there would doubtless be a lot of them!

How, if they turned down suggestions?

[Terry_Reeves]

Cuyvers

I happen to think the BBC are quite right to point out the dangers of WW1 overkill, and it should be remembered that there are a lot of people who have just a passing interest or non at all. As far as I can tell, the reason for you appearance on this forum is solely to advertise your company's DVDs, which makes your accusation of hypocricy look a bit shabby.

TR

[MN FILMS]

Sorry, I though I posted this on the Culture Page thread rather than the "Serves him right" thread. Anyway, the careful reader may have noticed that the intent was to let people know about the film, a good portion of which is available at no cost on Vimeo. There may be people who might want to take a look, or be interested in seeing more. In absence of a broadcast and the associated publicity this may well the only way some of you may find out about it. Reading the above I begin to wonder why I even bothered.

[Terry_Reeves]

Cuy.

I'm afraid you cannot go making the comments as you did without expecting some reaction. I accept that a good portion is available for nothing, but the other bits are are not. Is this part of the marketing?

TR

[MN FILMS]

As there appears to be a good deal of suspicion about this post, I'd like to make something very clear. Those of you who take the time to screen part of the film will notice a very considerable amount of time went into the making. We're talking thousands of hours (seriously), not a single one of which will very be paid. In addition there are the costs of filming, acquiring rights, editing, post-production, etc etc. Marketing is not really a term that comes to mind when I look back on this exercise. My intent was to make a deeply felt tribute to the thousands of your countrymen that rest in Flanders forever, not to make a quick buck.