TV’s saving graces

Watching a BBC4 repeat of Stephen Fry’s brilliant exploration on his bi-polar condition last night reminded me of the power and potential of documentary or factual film. Occasionally something comes along that knocks your socks off. A reminder of the positives of TV is quite timely on the opening day of the Edinburgh TV Festival where the medium is due to come under ‘blistering’ attack. (Also: another chance to catch one of TV’s greatest: Spike Lee’s awesome When the Levees Broke is due next Wednesday on BBC4).

With this in mind, and with a bit of trepidation, on Wednesday a few of us went to see the press screening of the film of one of our bestselling titles of last year – Stuart: A life Backwards. How would it live up to the book – without doubt, one of the most touching and imaginative reads of the last few years? Author Alexander Masters spoke a little about the process of adapting his work to film at our Foyles Day a few months ago and it sounded quite promising then – so…..

The book’s editor Nick (Pearson) says

[the screening was] a really wonderful gathering of journalists, the actors and all the people involved in the film, Stuart’s family too. There was a stunned silence at the end.

Forty years ago BBC1 screened Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home, a drama-documentary about homelessness and its effect upon families. That film became an instant classic, a describer of the times, and it continues to be regularly referenced as an example of the public power of television. (It was the catalyst for the housing action charity Shelter.)

One can’t help thinking of Stuart in relation to that film, both because of its powerful subject matter, and its potential as a defining piece of television, particularly at this moment when the small screen is under the hammer somewhat. Importantly for us, it is a film about the writing of our book, and I’m sure viewers will want to go on to read it.

The final frames show Alexander (Benedict Cumberbatch) walking into the window of Heffers in Cambridge and plonking down our hardback in the middle of a pile of Da Vinci Codes. We are trying to have the shop recreate that for the day of the film!

So, no matter what you your opinion of the box right now, or how large or small your faith in the effectiveness of book-tv adaptation, please watch it and tell us what you think. We think it’s a masterpiece, so interested to hear if you agree. It’s due to be shown in BBC2 either on 16th September or 23rd September (not sure which yet, but you’re bound to find out in a raft of publicity which is coming up for it).

….and if for some bizarre reason you haven’t read the book yet, drop me a line. I’ve found 5 copies of it to give away and I guarantee you’ll like it.