BFI PREVIEW: ‘NIGHT WILL FALL’

It was a relief to cry.

The day upon which German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, spoke out against anti-semitism* and when a BBC Breakfast report cited a Europe-wide increase in such Jewish-focused attacks*, early upon this day, I attended a preview screening of filmic documentation of the single most harrowing example of anti-semitic hatred. The Holocaust.

When invited to be present, I immediately registered that this would be life-changing. To bear witness to a visual feat, 70 years in the fulfilment, charting the recording, effects and aftermath of torturous barbarism inflicted, human-against-human, could not be anything other.

As I settled back into the cocooned ease of my comfy chair, at Hampstead’s Everyman Theatre, the powerful words of documentary-producer, Sally Angel, echoed around my mind…

“Try not to look away, but bear witness to the courage it took to make the film.”

I silently awaited ‘Night Will Fall’, a digitally-remastered culmination of a creative effort, spanning continents and generations, involving some of the most celebrated names within the film industry and giving names to those courageous, newly-trained soldiers, sent to capture footage.

 Immediately, the opening image of camera number 372574, seemed a subliminal mirror to the tatooed numbers which Jewish people, themselves, would not only be forced to display, but also, become. Shocking visual recollections ensued. From Bergen-Belsen, to Dachau and Buchenwald, the emaciated bodies of babies, children, women, men, in their thousands, bounced like rubber, as they were thrown into tennis-court sized pits. Lifeless, barely recognisable as having ever been human, these mid-distant stills of twisted, physical pile-ups, were followed by close-ups of starving inmates, on-the-cusp of death, existing amongst the stench of rising steam from the decomposing remains of those whom had been their loved-ones. Yet, such was the purpose and necessity of the late Granada Television founder, Sidney Bernstein, then of the Ministry of Infomation, that the ground-breaking usage of the technique, within the context of war, was employed to, literally, pull focus upon this devastating evidence of inhumane cruelty.

A joint film-unit formed, between the U.S.A and the U.K., that would further facilitate this ardent objective to reveal the atrocities of the Nazi concentration camps, as would the assistance of Supervisory Director, Alfred Hitchcock. His participation would add momentum to the implementation of technical methods such as ‘panning’ and ‘tracking’ in one-shot takes, in order to ensure the utmost authenticity of the resultant images. The use of contrast was particularly telling, from German SS officers ‘on leave’, in the idyllic environs of the countryside, to the half-dead prisoners-of-war, staring directly into camera, eyes glazed-over with hopelessness, with the very same countryside as an unreachable backdrop. From municipal ‘visitors’ and ‘upbeat’ local residents, to one woman being carried out, so distressing was the horror she had witnessed. Demonstrating the stark juxtaposition of an ‘out-of-sight-out-of-mind’ attitude, with the abject reality of such a mindset, highlighted “peering into a hell that you could not easily forget.”**

Further, tearstained, eye-witness accounts, recounted the ‘confiscation’ of twin boys and girls, who were subjected to such ‘medical experiments’ as being injected with incurable diseases. Deemed mere numbers, and with 600 Jewish deaths demanded daily, their survival was immaterial. The dark truth of the sheer scale of victims unravels evermore forcibly, through the mountains of personal belongings which were amassed, items which, due to the fallacy that they were moving to a better life, constituted the best of possessions. Finely, hand-made gloves and attire, shoes, glasses, brushes and favoured toys, told a tale of expected optimism…History records that the opposite was to be discovered, with the most brutal twist, being that of having bought their own tickets to an unfathomable fate.

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“Freedom was chocolate and hugs!”…

Expressed by a survivor, the newfound exuberance, is ushered into the documentary, as Allied troops move in to liberate prisoners from the concentration camps. So palpable is it, that I begin to breathe more easily, now aware of how tense I have become. The theme of catharsis continues to run parallel to the rehabilitation process. Of particular note, is the significance of womenswear being directly correlated with the growing self-esteem of the former female captives, with clothing becoming “a necessary tonic” to faciliate healing. Being, once more, able to choose anything, let alone an outfit, underscored the poignancy of the basic right to freedom of self-expression, the re-personalisation of the decision-making process and the absolute joy of re-engaging with life.

After a 70-year journey, under the leadership of Toby Haggith, (Film and Video Archivist at The Imperial War Museum and the documentary’s Restoration Director), rushes encapsulating the touching clarity of such nuanced moments, within the arc of the turmoil of war, are not the only elements to have been redefined. A historical record of The Holocaust has been re-presented, which goes beyond a cinematographic process, delving deeper into the human bravery required to capture and reveal such heartbreaking visuals. This pivotal footage is profoundly moving and delicately balanced between immeasurable sorrow and the upsurge of liberation and it is the final quote which still echoes…

“Unless the world learns the lessons which these pictures teach, night will fall…But by God’s Grace, you will live and learn.”**

Let us all hope that somehow, we do.

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REFERENCES:-

*: BBC BREAKFAST 14/09/2014 ~ **: “NIGHT WILL FALL”: CERT: 15 (DIRECTED BY: ANDRÉ SINGER)

“NIGHT WILL FALL” OPENS AT BFI SOUTHBANK 19/09/2014

Many thanks to Alex and Julia from the BFI, for organising tickets and hosting, to the Team at Everyman Theatre, Hampstead, for their fine service and hospitality.

Special thanks to Sally Angel, Toby Haggith and all involved, past and present, in bringing this life-changing documentary to light.

©AFROW2014-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

‘KISS MNEK!’*

…No, I’m not suggesting that you run up and plant one on him, but after you hear the sophisticated sounds of the amazing music-maker to whom I am about to introduce you, I think you might just want to give him a huge hug, in gratitude!

So, who’s all the fuss about?!

Well, his name is Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike… ‘MNEK’, for short, and not only is this prolific maestro putting the South London area of Catford on the music map (as well as his Twitter profile), but he’s also stamping a serious indentation upon the recording industry!

So, why all the fuss, then?!

It’s all because this teen is making some bold creative statements!

From high-rise, ‘hi-top fade’ hairdo (reminiscent of ‘Kid’, from seminal New York 90’s hip-hop duo, ‘Kid ‘n’ Play’), to the powerfully resurgent, afrocentric raiment and the energetically ‘graff-ic’ Keith Haring-èsque video, MNEK brings a uniquely, on-trend polish, to echoes of a treasured audiovisual era.

However, don’t get too lulled into nostalgia, because comparisons with such monosyllabic-monikered, superstar singer/songwriter/producer/remixers as Pharrell and (by all at Afrow-H.Q) our very own, Omar (living soul legend and MBE, with whom, MNEK bears a striking tonal resemblance), are bang up-to-date! These parallels are, part dedication, to learning his craft, (the seeds of which were sown at a young age), and part, distinctive ability to consolidate this honed knowledge and create poised tracks, firstly for, and then with other artists, amongst them ‘Little Mix’, ‘Duke Dumont’ and ‘Rudimental’ and now, on his own elegant, yet emotionally-charged, debut single ‘I Wrote A Song About You’.

It’s more than a song though…

It is, in fact, A C21st lament, layered in a musical mille-feuille of sublime topline and dulcet harmonies, against a backdrop of subtle chord progressions and percussive interplay, which seep into your soul-conscious, as only a classic hit can.

With MNEK’s burgeoning giftings coming to the fore, anticipation is palpable for a follow-up from this hotly-tipped U.K talent and, with a sell-out perfomance imminent at East London’s ‘Oslo’, (fast becoming the go-to venue for artist/label launches), expect pitch-perfect reviews, to-the-autotune-of ‘rising global star’, to follow!

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MNEK:-

‘WROTE A SONG ABOUT YOU’ (via YouTube/ Vevo) ~ PRE-ORDER ON iTUNES! (GENERAL RELEASE 31/08/2014)

SOUNDCLOUD ~ FACEBOOK ~TWITTER ~ YOUTUBE

OSLO

OMAR: ‘The Man’ (via YouTube)

PHARRELL

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GLOSSARY

*’Kiss m’neck’ = A colloquial term, used in Afro-Caribbean parlance, to emote surprise.

©AFROW2014-2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Creative Arts go OFF-the-BEAT-en track!

All roads led to ‘The Oval Space’, in Bethnal Green, last night, for one of the most anticipated of multi-media mash-ups on the Creative-Arts Calendar, namely, ‘The Shoreditch Fashion Show 2013’! You might remember that I was more-than-a-tad excited at the prospect of attending the event, which was presented by ‘öffbeat’, the Arts lifestyle brand… Well, it was, indeed, an extraordinary display of, what I happen to believe, makes the power of creative-collaboration so undeniably potent.

The moment I entered into the behemoth of this, formerly-derelict, space, pregnant with potential, I immediately sensed a synchronicity between the throbbing baseline, which was disseminating through my central nervous system and the  contractions of imminent, fashion-brand-births! I also found myself marvelling at just how perfectly-balanced a venue it was, being, at once, expansive, with enough room in which to throw and catch shapes, a-plenty, whilst also intimate enough to accommodate the collective energy of a collaborative congregation.

The vibe was rich and distinct. People from all walks-of-life rubbed shoulders, as they shook to the dynamic DJ-grooves and pressed palms with artists and designers, alike, in congratulatory exuberance. However, just like the beats, the meet-and-greets didn’t stop, for these everday-people embraced one another, as well as opportunities to form newfound fashion-friendships.

Co-existing under this banner of ’emergent ambience’ were starkly-contrasting Art-forms. In one corner was housed a formidable frieze of stylised character-outlines, created by self-confessed Narnia-resident, Dom&Ink! These especially-conceived, ebullient images were oft-surrounded by admirers, yet, things took a definite turn, when the quiff-sporting illustrator, and author of ‘Map Of My Heart’, appeared, and encouraged the observers to colour them in! Around the corner, more exceptional Art took my breath away. Wandering guests were bathed in diffused, iridescent light, emitted from the impressive installations, at floor and eye-levels, of SunYin Xiaowen and Aphra Shezma. Others stood, face-to-face, with equally-stunning, Fine Art offerings from Linda Cieniawska, Charlotte Osbourne and Gwyneth Fugard. As I passed by the intermittent onlookers, it was as if their inner energies were mirrored by the pieces, in such a way as to become ‘human glowsticks’ and ‘living wallpaper’ and I recall feeling truly priveleged, not only to witness the effect of such private moments, being experienced in public, but to also be an integral part of appreciating the exquisite talent.

As time grew nearer to the presentation of fashion, which was so on-edge, it felt as if someone were scraping their fingernails down a blackboard, excitement was fuelled by singing sensation, Vince Kidd. All but prowling-the-platform, he delivered Otis-Redding-raw vocals, with a similarly-seasoned prowess, speaking-to-the-deeps with his soul-inspired spin, on life, love and all that lies between. After taking the audience upon a heartfelt journey, Kidd made his exit, stage left, to whoops of delight and enthusiastic applause, leaving the see-through screen to became the backdrop behind which each model would wait, before taking to the runway.

In a bid to further immerse myself into the experience, yours truly took to her second home (for which I didn’t need to find five percent!), the Frow! Suddenly, silhouettes of each collection were backlit-to-perfection, establishing the effect of a ‘fashion-fourth-wall’, as well as indicating that, tonight, something was coming, which was better than good! However, this separation was soon to be aurally removed by bespoke, live collaborations with up-and-coming musicians who, from the stature of their performances, are bound to make increasingly influential impacts in each of their respective genres. First-up, was the amazing singer, Lydia Baylis, who tore-away-the-veil, with a unique set of beautifully-accompanied, sultry, acoustic-folk. Hot-on-her-heels, and before anyone had time to settle into the still, harmonic haze, ‘Kill It Kid’ stepped up and totally smashed the divide, juxtaposing the, previously, gentle mood, with an awesome repertoire of sonic explosions! Both styles brilliantly served to complement the essence of each designer-aesthetic and we were treated to a creative-clash which would put the SS14 ‘print-clash’ trend of any well-known fashion-house to shame!

Models with raked-back, ‘just-got-out-of-bed’ Batiste-hair and fashion-forward, metallic make-up were bedecked in sublime, sheer pieces from the avant-garde world of Marcelo Yarussi, the deftest of twists on masterful, digitally-printed garments, designed by Nicolas Wirth and the cool creations of blank-canvas-white, high-end futurism of London College of Fashion Graduate, Isabell Yalda Hellysaz. The fêted, power-house-of-a design institution was also showcased via the stand-out, all-black, structural apparel from Maria Zhminko, the intriguing, open-weave, cage-like, riffs on body-con from design-duo, Rebecca Morter and Gemma Vanson and the decadent columns-of-kaftans, with concentrated print-formations, from the joint-genius-pairing of Christina Tiran and Victoria Rowley.

As the showlights faded, such superstar-DJ names as the irrepressible ‘Bill & Will’, ‘Shivas Regal’, the A&R-astute founder of Tigermilk Recordings, and idiosyncratic rhythm-maker, ‘Mculo’, were heralded to take-to-the-decks and storm-the soundsystem! With a two-step, here, and a head-nod, there, (but, sadly, before the anticipated arrival of the superb Rufio Summers), I was ready to bow-out gracefully and wind my way through a London-town which, once again, felt like a haven for burgeoning, undiscovered artistry. In fact, I can’t remember a night where so many apparent-strangers were apt-for-sharing, participating and co-creating such a ‘moment’ in time.. It just goes to show that there is a real fashion-fellowship, of sorts, doing-away with the out-dated image of an industry which is, supposedly, replete with back-biting, where only the strong survive, and is re–defining it, as one filled with opportunities to go beyond disciplines or regions and traverse brand new terrain! Of course, no industry is perfect, but the ethos behind such events as ‘The Shoreditch Fashion Show’, promotes the commercial as a facilitative route and support–system to creativity, whilst maintaining, without compromise, the core integrity of the energy-source from which successful collaboration grows.

So, my deepest gratitude goes out to öffbeat, for providing me with with the chance to be part of such a unique vibe. Further congratulations go out to all other sponsors/ affiliates, both front and back-of-house, involved in delivering this fantastic gathering. Last night was everything it promised to be, an interactive celebration of multi-media expression, par excellence, filled with extraordinary and inspiring examples of Creative-Arts-at-their-best and I cannot recommend ‘The Shoreditch Fashion Show’ to you, highly enough! Neither can I wait to see how öffbeat and partners focus-pull their combined-skills to shine new lights on rising-stars of parallel creative-platforms in 2014!

©AFROW2013-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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TWITTER-TESTIMONIALS FROM ‘VIVID FASHION GROUP’ (@VIVIDFashionGrp)

‘One of the most descriptive and all together best blogs we have read!! @A_F_R_O_W please review all our events!’

‘…just re-read your blog on the show, it’s such an honour that what we created came across to you. Thank you for your words x’