Letter: Art-house variety

Matthew Leyland
Tuesday 16 February 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Emma Cook complains that the National Film Theatre offers "little diversity" in its programming (Irritations of Modern Life: Art- house Cinemas, 10 February). However, to take one example, films being shown on 10 February included: My Name is Joe; Body Politics Part One: The Feminine; The Stationmaster's Wife; Les Diaboliques; and Rush Hour. That is: British Socialist Realism; the Avant-Garde; New German Cinema; French Noir; and contemporary Hollywood.

On the contrary, it is the modern multiplex that shows a distaste for variety, filling its screens with nothing but $100m blockbusters (and the odd British film - as long as it stars Gwyneth Paltrow), and evincing a great fear of anything without special effects or with subtitles.

Blockbuster cinema can be wonderful - who isn't thrilled to the core at the thought of a new Star Wars? - but there's so much more to the medium.

And the reason anyone would disapprove of There's Something About Mary is that it's a deeply unfunny film.

MATTHEW LEYLAND

London E4

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in