British artist and filmmaker Ben Rivers returns to Bogancloch, nestled in a vast upland forest in the Scottish countryside of Aberdeenshire. This was the home of the hermit Jack Williams. It’s Rivers’ new film, which had its world premiere on Friday in the International Competition at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, with a jury headed by Jessica Hausner.
boganclohe Each season follows Williams’ life, with others occasionally intruding into his otherwise lonely existence. This is also the follow-up to Rivers’ short film this is my land (2007) and the following functions Two years at sea (2011).
“I made my first short film and my first feature film with Jack Williams,” the filmmaker said in a note on the Locarno Film Festival website. “I like to return to a person and see how we repeat gestures and obsessions, but also see how these change as the world changes.”
Rivers discussed his new story, which walks the line between documentary and fiction, at a press conference in Locarno on Friday at noon, sharing some insights into his creative process and experiences.
The filmmaker said it “took a few days of adjustment to get back to London” and be surrounded by crowds and noise. Vice versa, leave his home and go to a lonely place with a man, perhaps an able-bodied one. “There are always these adjustments to make in life, diet, washing and sound,” he said.
The director says his feelings about these places have changed over the years. “I think I might find it harder and harder to come back to London,” Rivers shared. “I love the calmness of the Scottish wilderness.”
On whether there is a life and philosophical message in the film, he said: “I think making a film about a man living an isolated life could be read as a level of selfishness, I don’t know, and this is a Someone who is cut off from himself and no longer has anything to do with what’s going on. So maybe this movie becomes this particular vision of a perfect way of life. And Jack isn’t that kind of person. Really connects with people. He encourages people to come and stay.
Why does Rivers feel the urge to return to Williams? “It’s kind of a sequel,” he said. “I guess my relationship with Jack [has become] A friendship. He added that the first film was about meeting the man “without a spoken word.”
In the second film, “I wanted to make slow changes,” like listening to Williams and showing him in a social context, the filmmaker said. “He loves his interactions, so it’s really important to me to have people in his space, but also have him in another space, which is a school… and when people come and sing.”
Rivers said the choice of song was also key, describing it as “this battle of life and death.” But in the end, the song is hopeful.
boganclohe
Courtesy Ben Rivers
