To gallivant is according to its dictionary definition ""to wander about seeking pleasure or diversion; to go about with members of the opposite sex"" and this is just what artist turned filmmaker Andrew Kotting set out to do on this zig-zagging six thousand mile trip around Britain's coastline. Part home movie part road movie Kotting's riveting and eccentric film stars his 85-year old grandmother Gladys - opinionated bursting with anecdotes and contradictory reminisences and his eight year old daughter Eden. Kotting uses 16mm and Super 8 filmstock found footage... timelapse photography and much non-synchronous sound to reveal a wonderland of bizarre traditions and quirky strangers [show more]
Gallivant is my favourite British film of all time. And, I think, the best.
The film centres around the relationship between Andrew Kotting (the film-maker), his 8 year old daughter Eden who has Joubert syndrome, and "Big Granny" Gladys (who is 80 plus years old) as they travel around the coast of the British Isles.
Kotting has been told that his daughter will most likely die in her early 20s; Big Granny is obviously approching the end of her life; but they all have the fullest intention to enjoy their time together which, as we see in the film, is quite magical.
On their travels the trio, a few film-making friends and the host of eccentric AND VERY REAL characters they come across interact to in turn hilarious, terrible and charming effect. Simultaneously summoning up a warm mythology for modern Britain to cherish and look forward to.
This DVD represents the only way in which most people will ever see this heart-achingly funny and heart-achingly sad film, and as such I cannot recommend it highly enough.
However, as well as the main feature this double disc package also comes with more than 10 of the directors short films, a printed treatment and informative essay.
This is cinematic mana from heaven. One of my most prized possessions which I want to share with the World, in its entirety.
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Director Andrew Kötting takes his grandmother Gladys Morris (aged eighty-five) and his daughter Eden (seven) on a tour of England's seaside resorts over the course of 1996. Eden suffers from Jouberts Syndrome and can only talk via sign language, but she and her great grandmother interact with various characters en route along the coastal regions.
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