Chariddy Shop Cinema #6 - A Bigger Splash

Chariddy Shop Cinema #6 : A Bigger Splash Not strictly speaking a charridy shop purchase, as I obtained this (the Salvation version) from Farnborough library, but it was only a pound, and I’d been provided with that money so technically it cost me nowt. I’d seen Hazan and Mingaye’s Rude Boy a number of times in my youth, and was aware of this. I’d never been fussed about David Hockney’s paintings, they always struck me as being of what Galton and Simpson would no doubt refer to as the Infantile school. IMDB moans about excessive homosexuality and abject boredom involving (horror!) fast-forwarding had me girding my loins, so to speak. A literal art film, a fascinating glimpse into Hockney’s world and working practices (nice work if you can get it – I don’t know how all these 60s-70s bohos funded their lifestyles but Dave’s biggest worry seemed to be whether he should stay in London or go to Paris/New York/California to work). The best form of escapism – a completely different world to the one you’re in. Crits jeering DH’s associates for being dull? These were non-actors and presumably unused to being in front of the camera. Hazan artfully (sorry) restages some Hockney canvasses (such as Beverley Hills Housewife), there’s mucho weirdness, many swimming pools and a lot of male nudity, but I came away with a different outlook on what it takes to be that kind of artist. I can’t get the scene where Dave just seems to march into Patrick Procter’s flat, and examine his own portrait of PP up close via Zippolight. Hazan tracks back to reveal PP in the same pose as the portrait, out of my mind. It’s just odd.