During the first class of the ‘recording place’ studio we get to view the feature film ‘Winter At Westbeth’ directed by our one and only, Mr. Rohan Spong. Personally, I was very excited to watch the film as I have heard rumblings around RMIT University about it and it was mentioned and recommended a lot during lectures last semester. So, I have always wondered what it was all about. Now, I do.

To begin with, Winter at Westbeth is a movie that takes place in the Westbeth Artists housing in New York City. That description itself opened such vast boundaries of what the film is going to be all about and how Rohan was going to portray it. Furthermore, the film continues in an exciting tone whilst introducing the first character that is, Ilsa Gilbert. The first part of the film shows Ilsa describing what Westbeth is and essentially, leading us as audiences as we enter the world of Westbeth and the intriguing stories behind it. When I say ‘intriguing stories behind it’, I really mean stories ‘within’ Westbeth and ‘among’ the characters like Ilsa whom also include, 95-year-old video artist, Edith Stephen and 75-year-old dancer, Dudley Williams. Moreover, the movie goes on through a journey about these three characters that lives in Westbeth and their experiences or stories about their perspective lives. It starts at Westbeth, goes at Westbeth and ends at Westbeth, which I find very interesting. All in all, this film to me was definitely ‘one of a kind’ as they say, absolutely inspiring and amazingly captured.

The film was also a great start to the Recording Place studio. This could be because it introduces many aspects of documentary films that can be obtained as an example. Especially, the fact that it really centers around a specific ‘place’ which is what the studio is about, the film vividly shows how a specific ‘place’ could generate captivating stories.

 

 

 

REFERENCES:

Winter at Westbeth 2015, documentary film, Unicorn Films, Directed by Rohan Spong.