It’s The Daily Constitutional Film Festival. And it’s programmed
by London Walks Guides and London Walkers. Which is the greatest London movie
of them all? The best performance in a London-set film? Your favorite London
movie location?
As usual, we want to hear from you – send us your favorite London movie nominations to the usual email address, get in touch with us on Twitter @londonwalks or leave a comment at the bottom of this post.
No.5: Closer
LW Guide Kim writes… Favourite London film? Oh, so many, so many. And largely because London is such a great place as a location that it turns up in films everywhere.
So, I've gone for my favorite location which is Postman's Park and is featured in the film Closer with Jude Law & Natalie Portman. One of the characters here is Alice Ayers - or is she? - and if you join me on Secret Village on Monday afternoon I'll show you where the name comes from.
Postman's Park is a wonderful little oasis of calm in the middle of the City and stood across from the Post Office headquarters in London so was used by the postmen for tea and lunch breaks. Today it's usually deserted or used as shortcut from St Martin le Grand to Aldersgate Street. But as you pass through you come across the most beautiful memorial in the whole of London - the idea of a Victorian artist and radical socialist, G W Watts - and it remembers ordinary people who demonstrated heroism in everyday life. These are not the famous or celebrated of Victorian and Edwardian society but are individuals who we would never encounter if it weren't for the memorial and the 7 or 8 lines of text - beautifully presented - leave you aching for more detail on how they came to lose their lives so tragically.
The idea of commandeering this memorial to use in a movie that focuses on adultery, addiction and deceit seems totally at odds with the simplicity on view here - but it works! See the movie if you want but don't miss this tranquil corner of London which is the real star.
Kim Kim, who has worked in the House of Commons and the European Parliament, is another 24-carat Blue Badge Guide: she won the London Tourist Board's Guide of the Year award in 2001.
Forthcoming Film Walks with London Walks… Alfred Hitchcock's London on September 22, from Holborn underground, both at 10.45; and London on Film on August 25, Bank underground exit 3 at 10.45.
You can also book a private London Film Locations walk by calling London Walks on 020 7624 3978 or emailing [email protected].
A London Walk costs £9 – £7 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
