Locarno’s First Look programme of works-in-progress puts the UK in the spotlight in 2023, and one of the six new titles in the frame is All At Sea, the semi-autobiographical documentary of the late Mike Hodges, who died in December 2022.
Directed, written and narrated by Hodges himself, All At Sea explores Mike’s story from his start in the Navy in the 1950s, to his work for Granada in the 1960s, through to his enormous success with hits such as Get Carter (1971) and Flash Gordon (1980), and later works such as Black Rainbow (1989) and Croupier (1998). “Reflecting from his quiet Dorset home, Mike Hodges creates a visual ode to the bustle of the sea, the spark of 1960s London, and the darker side of the world that he’s seen through a lens,” the synopsis reads.
The film is produced by Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter of Liverpool-based Hurricane Films, who previously made a trilogy of works with renowned UK auteur Terence Davies: Of Time & The City (2008), Sunset Song (2015) and A Quiet Passion (2016). Feature documentaries produced by Hurricane Films include Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story, about the about the former leader of the UK Trades Union Congress, and My Letter To The World, narrated by Cynthia Nixon on the life of American Poet Emily Dickinson. Both films were directed by Sol Papadopoulos.
The 74-minute, 100% archive All At Sea is budgeted at £425,000 and is at advance post-production/director’s cut stage. The Hurricane pair are looking to raise funds to cover clearance costs.
The starting point for the project came six years ago when Papadopoulos and Boulter were introduced to Mike Hodges by a mutual friend who was reissuing the soundtrack to Get Carter. They discussed the possibility of a “personal film” about his life and showed him their Of Time And The City (Terence Davies, Cannes 2008). “He [Hodges] began working on a script. Getting to know Mike and earn his trust was huge for us. He was a delight to work with, generous and patient and full of ideas. We decided to start editing in-house to create a proof of concept,” says Papadopoulos.
“Mike’s script and archive based film is very much his own style,” the producer continues. “Irreverent and cerebral with his reflection on life and the universe! The fact that we are 100% archive with Mike’s own narration means we have high clearance costs – that is what we are trying to raise to complete… We will continue to find the funds in true Indie spirit! Its great we have an opportunity to present the film here in Locarno.”
Papadopoulos further reflects on his late friend and collaborator. “You just have to say Get Carter or Flash Gordon and people immediately connect. But Mike was so much more. His life and career experiences match the great tent pole moments of the 20th century. Vietnam, Profumo, the US elections, post-JFK etc, all while at Granada/World in Action [the core UK current affairs strand]…An amazing man who was humble, and who said he just seemed to drift from one job to another. No plan – just living in the moment.”
“It was very special to have worked so closely with one of the UK’s greatest (but perhaps forgotten) directors,” Papadopoulos stresses. “He picture-locked with us about a year ago and sadly died aged 90 in December 2022 before we could expose his finale to world audiences. We will continue to try to do that in his honour.”
The work-in-progress screening of All At Sea will be at 11am, August 6, at Locarno’s Rialto.
Anoother UK documentary at First Look 2023 is No Ifs Or Buts by Sarah Lewis. Produced by Sarah Loews, Felt Culture, co-produced by DoBeDo Filmed over a 25-year period, No Ifs Or Buts “delivers a vital portrait of the low-key, yet world-famous London barbershop ‘Cuts’ – not just a place to get your hair styled but a space for street fashion and pop innovators.”
The establishment was founded by “freewheeling” James Lebon and Steve Brooks who met when one was a Rockerbilly and the other a New Romantic. “The film allows us to bear witness to the passing of time and the profound and often tragic personal change in the hairdressers’ lives within the wider context of change in the UK’s political and cultural landscape. It highlights the themes of family and creativity and is an anthem of the promise of youth and the friendships that endure (or not) over a lifetime,” the film notes underline.
The third documentary getting the First Look treatment is Mother Vera by Cécile Embleton and Alys Tomlinson, produced by Laura Shacham for She Makes Production. The synopsis reads how, “from the thick snow of the Belarusian forest to the heat of the reeds in the French Camargue, Mother Vera is the story of a young Orthodox nun; her turbulent past, and fragile future. After 20 years as a monastic, Vera faces deep inner conflict; now, she must confront her past and trust her instincts to find the liberation she desires.”
The 2023 First Look jury comprises Ava Cahen (Artistic Director, La Semaine de la Critique), Gaia Furrer (Artistic Director, Giornate degli Autori), and Eugene Hernandez (Festival Director, Sundance Institute).
Awards are: the Creativity Media First Look Award, which covers services towards the completion of films in post-production up to the value of €50,000; the Jannuzzi Smith Award worth €8,500, for the design of an international poster; and an award from leading industry magazine Le Film Français with advertising space worth €5,600. The winners will be announced on August 6.
