Generation Gap

1973
Sound
10m

Are the times a-changin', or are we getting old? This amateur cartoon delves into the dreams of the Cashworthy family.

When the 70s began to feel the hangover from all that 60s swinging, it was a good time to take stock. This cartoon by prolific amateur filmmaker Peter Hickling features the aging Cashworthy, voiced by the inimitable Bob Godfrey of Roobarb and Henry's Cat fame, who escapes into fantasy to avoid the everyday reality of getting old. Yet his memories betray that the generation gap isn't always as wide as it seems.

For this film Peter benefited from the financial support of the BFI Production Board and the facilities of Bob Godfrey's studio. The use of a professional camera set-up and the score of gifted jazz musician and composer Johnny Hawksworth (who also wrote the opening theme to Roobarb) adds a polish to the production, yet doesn't inhibit the rough and ready style of an artist on the outside of the industry.

Amateur Auteurs

Ever dreamed of shooting your own movie? These pre-digital cine-enthusiasts did - with all the passion and devotion of the true auteur.

These low- (or no-) budget creations reach beyond simple point-and-shoot, back-garden efforts towards something more ambitious and skilful, revealing their authors' passion for film and their often astonishing ingenuity with limited resources. No desktop editing software or digital special effects for these amateur auteurs. The films include fiction and documentary, competition prizewinners and private labours of love. They may be the work of cine-clubbers or individual enthusiasts. But they all show a devotion to filmmaking that far transcends hobbyism. So look out for the delightful handmade intertitles, table-top special effects and library soundtracks which decorate many of the quirky stories, ultra-local documentaries and painstakingly composed home movies featured here.