Film - THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W. EUGENE SMITH

Off the Wall Films presents

THE JAZZ LOFT ACCORDING TO W. EUGENE SMITH

Sara Fishko, USA, 2015, 87m

NB - Doors at 5:30pm for a 6:30pm start. The programme will end around 9:00pm. Pre-screening supper, available to pre-order only, served in the Waterside 5:30 - 6:15pm. To order supper simply buy a meal ticket as listed above (nb - supper bookings will close at 12:00 midnight on the Saturday before the screening).

In 1957 the celebrated war photographer and Newsweek / Life photo-essayist W. Eugene Smith left his wife, four children and career behind, taking up residence in a clapped-out five storey block on Sixth Avenue, New York. He immediately set to wiring the entire building for sound and taking tens of thousands of photographs, exhaustively documenting the activities of the collection of artists and jazz musicians for whom the building was an after-hours hang-out and performance space. The resulting vast archive gives insight into a unique late ‘50s / early ’60 NY creative hub, including recordings, footage and still shots of Thelonious Monk, Jimmy Giuffre, Roland Kirk, Zoot Sims, Salvador Dali plus dozens of others, and fascinating birds-eye shots of the buzzing ‘Flower District’ street life. Distilled from this archive, Sara Fishko’s documentary gives a glimpse of this endlessly energetic and troubled talent and the creative maelstrom that whirled around him for eight extraordinary years in a crumbling Manhattan loft.

Presented in partnership with PhotoBath and The Bath Jazz Weekend. 

“An exceptionally vivid picture of bohemian life during one of New York City's most exciting eras.” – The Hollywood Reporter.

“The bohemian paradise of this environment had a dark side, and the movie doesn't give it short shrift. Nevertheless, a genuine exhilaration holds throughout.” – The New York Times.

“Fishko is always on to the next striking image that will too quickly pass. Fortunately, that next thing is often a joyous surprise ...” – The Village Voice.

“…a fascinating look at a bygone era and at the luminaries who provided an entire city – and the world – with its energy and creative vibe.” – Cinema365.

“There is a sense of urgency to Smith's work from the Jazz Loft…a multimedia, genre-defying body of work… the pictures and sounds, now fused as moving images, display rare moments from the lives of the musicians he captured, suspended eternally in the amber of Smith's dramatic lighting and painterly compositions.” – Newsweek.

“Sara Fishko’s Jazz Loft sticks elegantly but relentlessly to the matter at hand… it is a polemic against the sloppiness, carelessness and selfishness of so much contemporary film and art work.” – wsws.org

Voluntary donations - Off the Wall Films is a not-for-profit enterprise. All donations - very gratefully received - will go towards improving the OtWF programme and the presentation of films at WSC.

Carers' tickets - we offer complimentary tickets to carers of people with disabilities. If you would like to attend the screening along with the person in your care please message  offthewall@gmx.co.uk  with your request for a ticket. Please note - you are eligible for this offer only if you are accompanied by a paying person with disabilities.