The Dilapidated Dwelling (Patrick Keiller, 2000)

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Gus · #1 Post by **Gus** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:58 am

I got the BFI disc of Patrick Keiller's London & Robinson in Space and really loved them. I did some reading about Patrick Keiller and found out that he did a film for television in 2000 but it was never aired. I can't find out why and does anybody know if it will be released on DVD?

Also... have anybody seen his early work, Stonebridge Park (1981), by Norwood (1983) and The Clouds (1989) and if so how are they?

#2 Post by **zedz** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:20 pm

I've seen The Dilapidated Dwelling and it's an interesting essay film about the state of British housing (and people's emotional relationships to their homes), but I didn't find it anywhere near as impressive as the earlier films.

Keiller was a former architect himself, and he's clearly highly engaged with his subject matter, but without the playful narrative context of the previous film it comes off as much dryer and straighter: more conventional. The narration is lightly fictionalised (Tilda Swinton is playing a 'character', and her voice is spot-on in this context), but it's more of a peripheral conceit in this film, a mere mask for Keiller's own voice.

As you'd expect from London and Robinson, it's beautifully shot and sharply compiled (lots of archival footage as well). Definitely worth seeking out, but not up to the earlier films (which I must rewatch for the 90s list project!)

MichaelB · #3 Post by **MichaelB** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:42 pm

Gus wrote:I got the BFI disc of Patrick Keiller's London & Robinson in Space and really loved them. I did some reading about Patrick Keiller and found out that he did a film for television in 2000 but it was never aired. I can't find out why and does anybody know if it will be released on DVD?

It was given a few screenings round about 2000 (I caught one of them at the Institute of Contemporary Arts), but the reason it was never broadcast or released commercially is because of the amount of archive footage.

Basically, Keiller used much more than producer Keith Griffiths was expecting, and the film's budget wouldn't stretch to the relevant clearances. Keiller wasn't prepared to make cuts, so unless a broadcaster or DVD distributor is prepared to go to that extra expense, the film is effectively undistributable.

And because it's a niche title with a vengeance (I don't think Zedz is going to disagree with me here!), no-one has yet come forward.

It's a real shame, as it's a fascinating film - clearly un film de Patrick Keiller, but quite different from London and Robinson in Space. I'd agree with Zedz that it's a minor work compared with those two, but I'm still glad I had the chance to see it.

ryan11 · #4 Post by **ryan11** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:12 pm

This site has a clip and stills from the film.

#5 Post by **zedz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:21 pm

Thanks for the extra info, Michael. Since a DVD release of this is unlikely to be forthcoming, maybe a mod can move this thread to "New Films"?

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