Some people are asking how can a film with a Mexican director, two American A-listers and the backing of a major U.S. studio and wasn't even set in Britain (or any country for that matter) possibly be British?
It is all down to the British Film Institute who can claim a film for Britain if there is 'significant British creative involvement'.
A film must score 16 points out of a possible 31 to pass. Gravity passes if you count its Mexican director, Alfonso Cuaron as British because he lives in London and it was produced by Brit David Heyman and was shot at Shepperton Studios hiring British artists and technicians and used a British company, Framestore, for its visual effects.
If that isn't enough British creative involvement' to claim it for Queen and country, Cuaron explained that: 'There's a series of rules that make a film eligible for a British film or not. And 'Gravity' definitely has all the requirements'.
Basically, it's a British film because we said so (and because we counted the Mexican as a Brit) so here's hoping that Gravity, which is actually an amazing film if a little slow paced in places, sweeps the boards and we can make comments about how we remember when America made films like this.
As a strange quirk of twisting the criteria to claim things as ours, George Clooney is now officially English and therefore qualifies to be Prime Minister and is officially allowed to start using the letter 'U' in words.
You snooze you lose America, now ya'll have a nice day and all that.
6 comments:
I loved 'Gravity', it was a total trip. Especially in 3D at the Imax!
'12 Years A Slave' doesn't look as interesting to me, but I suppose I'll see it at some stage. Have you seen it, Lucy?
Most big budget films these days are created by a diverse bunch of talented people from all over the place, so I don't know why people would get hung up about labeling such-and-such a movie as 'British' or 'American' or even 'New Zealand' (some kiwis go around claiming LOTRs is a 'NZ film'... not that I think that should be a matter of pride, dull stuff that it is)...
Having said that, I guess there's a load of technical people who work at Shepperton who'll be feeling pretty proud this morning.
It just made me smile that we are claiming it and to make sure we can, we made the Mexican a Brit.
I saw Gravity on the big screen but not in 3d but yes, it was great. I haven't seen 12 Years A Slave and like you will probably get around to seeing it at some point but won't make any special effort to see it.
dang it. beth bought the dvd but it was messed up... so i still haven't seen it.
q
Have a British night when you watch it q to celebrate British films. You and Beth will need a teapot, some cucumber sandwiches, a butler and get one of those jumpers with the patches on the elbows.
Or, more authentically, a hot vindaloo and some 9% cider while wearing tracky bottoms.
hmmmm. i like cucumber sandwiches and hot green or herbal teas, but my wife likes beef and pork bbq and margaritas. the wife wins...
q
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