Another kind of pilgrim walks the way

[sovay]

Oh, thank God someone who is neither me nor poliphilo is writing intelligently about A Canterbury Tale (1944):

The film harks back to a time of glory, the old pilgrims on the ancient road, while simultaneously reminding us that there was no time of glory, or rather that every time is a time of glory, that we live in flux and that's OK. The only world is the one that's here, bashed about and bent out of shape, and the only heroes are the people around us, frail and fearful and coping as best they can. Powell and Pressburger's pilgrims have a hat-full of troubles and no idea where they're going. They strive and they falter and leave very little trace. But along the way, they receive blessings. They come stumbling through the ruins to find salvation inside abandoned caravans and hear the voices of angels in the train whistle's yelp.

Xan Brooks, "A pilgrim's progress: on the trail of A Canterbury Tale."

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yay!

I think it's reputation is growing. It used to be a forgotten film. Now it's a cult.

[sovay]

I think it's reputation is growing. It used to be a forgotten film. Now it's a cult.

I am all right with that! I'd love someday to see it in theaters in as fine a restoration as The Red Shoes.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Beautifully observed and written. Thank you.

Nine

[sovay]

Beautifully observed and written.

It makes a really nice change from disagreeing constantly with Ian Christie!

[papersky.livejournal.com]

I remain everlastingly grateful to you for letting me know that these films exist and I wanted to see them.

I love Canterbury Tale. Now there's a film that really earns its ending.

[sovay]

I remain everlastingly grateful to you for letting me know that these films exist and I wanted to see them.

You are very welcome. A Canterbury Tale is a film I want to share with everyone.

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this link. I do recall that, once upon a time, you thought that I too was among those who had written intelligently about A Canterbury Tale. It is nice to see others added to the list, but I hope I haven't dropped off it!

[sovay]

but I hope I haven't dropped off it!

You have not been displaced. People keep telling me to write about the Archers and I keep telling them I don't have the time or the resources right now (or any idea of how to get on a book on cinema by an academic and popular unknown published in this climate) and poliphilo rendered my favorite summary of the film ever: "Poetic, perverted, patriotic. It makes me cry." I didn't include nineweaving or rushthatspeaks either.