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A tale of three women
Documentary film-maker Bob Edwards is bringing his tales of three charismatic women to Wingfield Barns next month as part of the Harleston and Waveney Festival.
Called 3 Women – 3 Continents, the half-hour documentary films are fascinating, touching and often humorous portraits using what Mr Edwards calls Gonzo film-making.
The Wingfield resident has been in the business for more than 40 years, having started as a film-maker at the BBC in 1967, and has recently made documentaries for Christian Aid in Sierra Leone.
He received a BAFTA nomination for his sound recording work on the London Weekend Television production of The Marriage of Figaro, has written books, held exhibitions of his photographs and teaches film-making.
Mr Edwards said these days film-making is for fun and “to give something back”.
“I am hoping to do more work for charities,” he said.
“You reach a certain point in your life. I am financially self-sufficient and I don’t need to make money.”
In 2000, he started directing and filming his three portraits of women.
Lucy W tells the story of classical violinist Lucy Waterhouse, who wins a scholarship to learn the secrets of tango from the masters in Argentina.
One scene shows the seductive dance being performed in a club in Buenos Aires.
There are great close-up shots but Mr Edwards did not get permission to film at the venue.
“They threw me out of the nightclub saying ‘you can’t do that’ but I had done it already,” he said.
The second film, Ma Faiza, is about a six-foot tall Indian lesbian who Mr Edwards met during a trip to Goa.
“She was a great seducer and obviously a great lover – the women she was with looked very happy,” he said.
In the film, Miss Faiza talks about becoming bankrupt – with the last of her collection of watches being removed from her wrist by someone from the insolvency company.
“I had three really good years of success with failure,” she says in the film.
“I really, really loved money. Then the recession hit.”
The final film is Langer Hall – a quirky tale of restaurateur Imogen Skirving and the business she built from scratch at the country residence just outside Nottingham.
It shows typically English scenes, from someone sat on the lawn working on a watercolour painting of the hall to wedding guests sipping champagne.
But it also shows the chef who suffers from bi-polar disorder waving a glass bottle at the camera and hilarious scenes where everybody pitches in to move a mobile home on the premises.
Ms Skirving has written a book about her exploits, called The Reluctant Restaurateur and will be introducing the short film at Wingfield Barns.
“I am not biased – I just happened to find these particular women,” said Mr Edwards.
“But I think that on the whole I prefer the company of women. They are a much more interesting species.”
He explained that his inspiration for making films like these was the digital revolution which happened about ten years ago.
“I started film-making in the 1960s when it could only be in the hands of the professional,” said Mr Edwards.
“Ten minutes of film cost about £100 and was about £150 to process.
“You had to edit it and use post-production equipment.
“Then in about 2000 there was a digital revolution and a roll of tape cost about £5. It gave people this enormous freedom.”
The three films being shown at Wingfield Barns have all been shot using inexpensive technology and the only other people involved in the process are those who star in the films and an editor.
“I look to someone to have a second opinion,” said Mr Edwards.
“They all capture what was happening at the time – with the action driving the filming.
“The situation dictates the camera. I follow what they do, I am not ordering everyone about,” said Mr Edwards.
The films 3 Women – 3 Continents are being shown at Wingfield Barns on August 25, 7.30pm.
Lucy W and Ma Faiza will be introduced by Mr Edwards, with Ms Skirving making a special appearance to talk about Langer Hall.
Tickets, priced at £6, are available from the festival box office, 01379 851917, 01379 852221.
WebWatch: www.harlestonand waveneyfestival.co.uk
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