Director Ken Loach talks to students
Legendary British film director Ken Loach joined staff and students for a screening of his 1995 film 'Land and Freedom' followed by an hour-long Q&A.
Students were particularly interested in discussing how Loach developed his famed naturalistic filmmaking style, gaining an insight into the particular relationship between script and improvisation within Loach’s films.
Speaking openly and frankly about his politics, the audience also deepened their understanding of the social and cultural context of Loach’s work, from the housing crisis of the 1960s that he exposed with his first television play 'Cathy Come Home' through to his most recent film 'The Spirit of '45,' on the formation of the welfare state and National Health Service in the post-war period.
The exclusive screening and Q&A formed part of the Writing on the Wall festival, held annually each May. Originally formed within LJMU in 1999, the Writing on the Wall organisation was ‘spun out’ of the University in 2004 and now employs five staff to produce a calendar of festivals, events and projects throughout the year. LJMU's Stuart Borthwick, Faculty Registrar in Arts, Professional and Social Studies, is a founding trustee and chair of the organisation.
Since 1999, Writing on the Wall has curated 20 festivals in Liverpool and Sefton, while also coordinating a series of ongoing community writing projects. For more information, see the organisation's website.
