Margaret Tait: Selected Films 1952-1976

Synopsis: A compilation of 7 short films by the Orcadian filmmaker and poet Margaret Tait, a forerunner of the English experimental directors of the late 20th century.. Over the course of 36 years she produced over 30 films and published five books of poetry and short stories. She described her life’s work as making film-poems. Her philosophy and method were that if you look at an object closely enough it will speak its nature. This clarity of vision and purpose, with an attention to simple commonplace subjects combined with a rare sense of inner rhythm and pattern, give her films a transcendental quality while still remaining firmly rooted in the everyday.

The films included on this DVD are: PORTRAIT OF GA (1952), AERIAL (1974), HUGH MACDIARMID: A PORTRAIT (1964), WHERE I AM IS HERE (1964); PLACE OF WORK (1976); TAILPIECE (1976); JOHN MACFADYEN (1970).
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2006
Year of production: 1952-1976
Subjects: Literature; Film Studies
Keywords: experimental film & video; poetry; Scotland; Tait, Margaret

Title: Portrait of Ga
Synopsis: 1966. A loving portrait of the artist’s mother, which raises questions of what a portrait might be.
Title: Aerial
Synopsis: 1974
Title: Hugh MacDiarmid: A Portrait
Synopsis: 1964. An affectionate and intimate study of the Scottish poet on the streets of his home town.
Title: Where I am is Here
Synopsis: 1964. A timeless paen to the city of Edinburgh in winter.
Title: Place of Work
Synopsis: 1976.
Title: Tailpiece
Synopsis: 1976.
Title: John Macfadyen (The Stripes of the Tartan)
Synopsis: 1970. A joyful, hand-painted film to the music of the Orkney Reel Society.

Name: National Library of Scotland, Moving Image Archive Shop
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Address: Moving Image Archive
National Library of Scotland
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