A Day in the Life - Four Portraits of Post-War Britain by John Krish (1953-1964) + Extras

John Krish is one of British cinema's best-kept secrets: a master of post-war documentary filmmaking who repeatedly turned his works for sponsors as diverse at the Central Office of Information (COI) and the NSPCC into not just effective non-fiction films, but truly stirring cinema to rank alongside the world's greatest directors.

A Day in the Life collects together four of his most cherished films:
– The Elephant Will Never Forget (1953, 11:10, IMDB), a farewell to London's trams
– Our School (1962, 28:24, IMDB), charting the beliefs of educators, and the aspirations of the decade's young school-leavers
– They Took Us to the Sea (1961, 26:08, IMDB), a poignant record of a seaside outing for disadvantaged children
– I Think They Call Him John (1964, 27:29, IMDB), a deeply moving account of an elderly widower.

In each of these films – richly textured with the details of everyday post-war life – Krish combines a deep belief in humanity with a compulsive desire to push the documentary form forward.

This essential and critically acclaimed collection is supplemented by an interview with Krish, as well as Krish's rarely seen films I Want to Go to School (1959) and Mr Marsh Comes to School (1961).



Extras:
Krish's rarely seen films:
– I Want to Go to School (1959, 31:17, IMDB): a charming portrait of a typical day at a primary school
– Mr. Marsh Comes to School (1961, 24:54, IMDB); a distinctly unorthodox film for teenagers, featuring a supernaturally talented Youth Employment Officer

More in My Blog