The Filmhouse

Mark Cousins' 'What Is This Film Called Love?' + Q&A at the Filmhouse this Thursday

It’s important to take a breather after the stress and strain of a ‘big job’ - even a prolific workaholic like Jean-Luc Godard decided he needed to work on a smaller project after the the challenge of working on the big budget Cinemascope epic that was Le Mépris.

Mark Cousins may not appear to have much in common with Godard, but like the Swiss director, he completed a mammoth  (15 and ½ hours long, and 6 years in the making) guided tour the history of cinema, the superlative The Story of Film: An Odyssey. Passionate, always engaging and clearly in love with the seventh art, Cousins is a rarity amongst modern-day film critics.

What_Is_This_Film_Called_Love.jpg

His latest work, What Is This Film Called Love?, was ‘made for £ 5.80’ and shot over 3 days in Mexico. A meditation on the nature of happiness, it seems like a very personal film - a world away from the academic approach of The Story of Film (Cousins himself noted that he never used the word “I” in the commentary). It also features music by Blasted favourites PJ Harvey and Bernard Hermann.

You could do much worse then get down to Edinburgh’s Filmhouse on Thursday at 18.15 and see it for yourself, and maybe even ask the man himself a few questions.

You can read more about What Is This Film Called Love? here, and you can also follow Mr Cousins on Twitter.

Freitags #5

Freitags #5. Every Friday we post links to news, articles, media, events and other assorted sources of distraction that we've unearthed through the week. This week features Summerhall, Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys, Antony Gormley and Lady Gaga, The Filmhouse, The Cameo, It's a Wonderful Life, The Muppets, Gremlins, Trading PlacesBlack Christmas, Festivus and Ulysses.

Read More