Robin Baker
@robinalexbaker.bsky.social
Film. TV. Archaeology. Pottery. Photography. Novels and short stories. Design. India. London. West Dorset 🌻 🍉
Linktree: https://t.co/YEqJmhdXY0
Linktree: https://t.co/YEqJmhdXY0
1/9. First time watch of the pulpy, noirish, neorealist Bitter Rice (Giuseppe De Santis, 1949). No idea why it’s taken me so long - probably the most enjoyable film I’ve watched this year. If you haven’t seen it, see 🧵 for a few reasons why you should.
February 16, 2026 at 10:46 PM
1/9. First time watch of the pulpy, noirish, neorealist Bitter Rice (Giuseppe De Santis, 1949). No idea why it’s taken me so long - probably the most enjoyable film I’ve watched this year. If you haven’t seen it, see 🧵 for a few reasons why you should.
1/4. John Schlesinger - born 100 years ago today - on the set of Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) with Terence Stamp and Julie Christie.
February 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
1/4. John Schlesinger - born 100 years ago today - on the set of Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) with Terence Stamp and Julie Christie.
1/2. Love the fragile beauty and mystery of these single 35mm frames from unidentified early films.
February 15, 2026 at 9:53 PM
1/2. Love the fragile beauty and mystery of these single 35mm frames from unidentified early films.
1/7. Enjoyed The President’s Cake (Hasan Hadi, 2025) a great deal - the first Iraqi film I've seen. Out now in UK cinemas.
February 14, 2026 at 11:52 AM
1/7. Enjoyed The President’s Cake (Hasan Hadi, 2025) a great deal - the first Iraqi film I've seen. Out now in UK cinemas.
Reposted by Robin Baker
John Wyver on the absolutely perplexing disconnect between restored archive treasures on iplayer and the total lack of supporting publicity, or even explanation.
Dear BBC Archives...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
Dear BBC Archives... - Illuminations
In a way, you’re spoiling us – and we’re grateful. ‘Us’ being the nerdy types fascinated by television’s deep archive. For so long, because of rights restrictions and a general lack of interest, telev...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 8:09 AM
John Wyver on the absolutely perplexing disconnect between restored archive treasures on iplayer and the total lack of supporting publicity, or even explanation.
This picture of Catherine Deneuve imagined in Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882) makes me smile every time I visit London's Garden Cinema.
February 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
This picture of Catherine Deneuve imagined in Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882) makes me smile every time I visit London's Garden Cinema.
Watched a double-bill of Charbrol's Les Biches (1968) and La Femme infidèle (1969) last night.
Nice self-referential moment in La Femme infidèle when Michel Bouquet drives past a cinema showing... Les Biches.
Nice self-referential moment in La Femme infidèle when Michel Bouquet drives past a cinema showing... Les Biches.
February 8, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Watched a double-bill of Charbrol's Les Biches (1968) and La Femme infidèle (1969) last night.
Nice self-referential moment in La Femme infidèle when Michel Bouquet drives past a cinema showing... Les Biches.
Nice self-referential moment in La Femme infidèle when Michel Bouquet drives past a cinema showing... Les Biches.
The first film adaptation of #WutheringHeights (A.V. Bramble, UK, 1920) is now sadly lost.
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
February 7, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The first film adaptation of #WutheringHeights (A.V. Bramble, UK, 1920) is now sadly lost.
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
Reposted by Robin Baker
CATS ON FILM (kindle or paperback)
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
February 6, 2026 at 10:57 AM
CATS ON FILM (kindle or paperback)
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
"the perfect book for cat lovers"
"Bonus: includes My Day by Jones, AKA Alien from the cat's PoV"
"one of the finest pieces of specialist film scholarship published in recent years”
"possibly the greatest book ever"
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1978038747
1/3. Watched Le Boucher (Claude Chabrol, 1970) for the first time in decades. God, it’s good. The final 20 minutes!
February 3, 2026 at 10:22 PM
1/3. Watched Le Boucher (Claude Chabrol, 1970) for the first time in decades. God, it’s good. The final 20 minutes!
Reposted by Robin Baker
Good morning, Bluesky! I've whipped up your Sunday breakfast!
February 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Good morning, Bluesky! I've whipped up your Sunday breakfast!
1/8. Rewatched Chabrol’s Merci pour le chocolat aka Nightcap (2000) for the first time since its release. Enjoyed it every bit as much as first time around: a rich, rewarding, old school thriller.
February 1, 2026 at 3:15 PM
1/8. Rewatched Chabrol’s Merci pour le chocolat aka Nightcap (2000) for the first time since its release. Enjoyed it every bit as much as first time around: a rich, rewarding, old school thriller.
I just read a recent British review of Chabrol's Les Cousins, referring to it as his 'sophomore feature'. It's an expression that seems to be receiving increasing currency in the UK. I wonder why 'second feature' isn't good enough? Not American enough? Insufficiently ancient Greek?
February 1, 2026 at 12:03 PM
I just read a recent British review of Chabrol's Les Cousins, referring to it as his 'sophomore feature'. It's an expression that seems to be receiving increasing currency in the UK. I wonder why 'second feature' isn't good enough? Not American enough? Insufficiently ancient Greek?
1/5. First time watch of Claude Chabrol’s La Rupture (1970). It’s a long time since I’ve oscillated between ‘this is terrible/this is wonderful’ quite so frequently, though finally edging towards the latter.
February 1, 2026 at 10:32 AM
1/5. First time watch of Claude Chabrol’s La Rupture (1970). It’s a long time since I’ve oscillated between ‘this is terrible/this is wonderful’ quite so frequently, though finally edging towards the latter.
Reposted by Robin Baker
ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY (Akira Kurosawa, 1947.) This beautiful, bittersweet gem isn’t perfect, but I love how it illustrates the importance of daring to dream, even when faced with crushing poverty and limited opportunities to build a future. (1/2) #FilmSky
January 31, 2026 at 8:19 PM
ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY (Akira Kurosawa, 1947.) This beautiful, bittersweet gem isn’t perfect, but I love how it illustrates the importance of daring to dream, even when faced with crushing poverty and limited opportunities to build a future. (1/2) #FilmSky
“Plays like a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest”. Thank you, @xanbrooks.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest
Dispiriting, deadly and unrevealing – there is a decent documentary to be made about the former model from Slovenia, but this one is unredeemable
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
“Plays like a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest”. Thank you, @xanbrooks.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Reposted by Robin Baker
First watch: Chabanuary (?) continues with this would-be thriller from 1971 that pivots away from the expectations it sets up. Probably the most Haneke-esque of the Chabrols I have seen: a kind of proto-Benny's Video without the handwringing about the effects of violent media on young minds. 1/5
January 29, 2026 at 4:43 PM
First watch: Chabanuary (?) continues with this would-be thriller from 1971 that pivots away from the expectations it sets up. Probably the most Haneke-esque of the Chabrols I have seen: a kind of proto-Benny's Video without the handwringing about the effects of violent media on young minds. 1/5
Essential reading for anyone who cares about the presentation of classic film (or, indeed, get irked when subjects better filmed in landscape format are shot in portrait). Great article by @pamhutch.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/film/comment...
www.theguardian.com/film/comment...
Hitchcock’s The Lodger has been turned into a vertical microdrama. What’s next – Psycho on Snapchat?
A silent-era classic has been reframed for the vertical scroll of phone screens. Is this innovation, sacrilege, or just another way to repackage cinema history?
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Essential reading for anyone who cares about the presentation of classic film (or, indeed, get irked when subjects better filmed in landscape format are shot in portrait). Great article by @pamhutch.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/film/comment...
www.theguardian.com/film/comment...
Reposted by Robin Baker
GIRL WITH HYACINTHS (Hasse Ekman, 1950).
This was excellent, a bleak investigation into the reasons behind a young woman’s suicide, delving into her backstory and gradually revealing the circumstances that led to her death. It is the woman’s female neighbour who correctly intuits >> (1/2) #FilmSky
This was excellent, a bleak investigation into the reasons behind a young woman’s suicide, delving into her backstory and gradually revealing the circumstances that led to her death. It is the woman’s female neighbour who correctly intuits >> (1/2) #FilmSky
January 24, 2026 at 8:43 PM
GIRL WITH HYACINTHS (Hasse Ekman, 1950).
This was excellent, a bleak investigation into the reasons behind a young woman’s suicide, delving into her backstory and gradually revealing the circumstances that led to her death. It is the woman’s female neighbour who correctly intuits >> (1/2) #FilmSky
This was excellent, a bleak investigation into the reasons behind a young woman’s suicide, delving into her backstory and gradually revealing the circumstances that led to her death. It is the woman’s female neighbour who correctly intuits >> (1/2) #FilmSky
1/4. First time watch of A Soldier Came Back From the Front (Nikolai Gubenko, Soviet Union, 1971).
The film is a potent exploration of the impact of WW2 on a Russian village, but it has a universality about it that makes you think about any war at any time.
The film is a potent exploration of the impact of WW2 on a Russian village, but it has a universality about it that makes you think about any war at any time.
January 24, 2026 at 10:31 AM
1/4. First time watch of A Soldier Came Back From the Front (Nikolai Gubenko, Soviet Union, 1971).
The film is a potent exploration of the impact of WW2 on a Russian village, but it has a universality about it that makes you think about any war at any time.
The film is a potent exploration of the impact of WW2 on a Russian village, but it has a universality about it that makes you think about any war at any time.
Reposted by Robin Baker
New on the blog today, I've written about more of my favourite London novels.
Including books by Barbara Comyns, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Including books by Barbara Comyns, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
London novels – another ten favourites from my shelves
Back in July, I put together a list of ten favourite novels set in London. It seemed to strike a chord with many of you, so much so that I thought I’d pick another ten, including some of the books …
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:17 AM
New on the blog today, I've written about more of my favourite London novels.
Including books by Barbara Comyns, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Including books by Barbara Comyns, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Reposted by Robin Baker
A thing that irks me about our brave new world is that when I encounter a photo I've never seen before (the one on the left) I worry that it's an AI forgery, even though I've seen variations on it (as at the right) for decades.
(I've found the left one posted back to 2012, so OK.)
(I've found the left one posted back to 2012, so OK.)
January 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM
A thing that irks me about our brave new world is that when I encounter a photo I've never seen before (the one on the left) I worry that it's an AI forgery, even though I've seen variations on it (as at the right) for decades.
(I've found the left one posted back to 2012, so OK.)
(I've found the left one posted back to 2012, so OK.)
Reposted by Robin Baker
We're delighted to announce that Chris Chibnall – screenwriter of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Broadchurch and Doctor Who – will be the guest curator of From Page to Screen, Bridport’s Film Festival (22-26 April 2026) https://www.bridport-arts.com/fpts/
January 15, 2026 at 8:00 AM
We're delighted to announce that Chris Chibnall – screenwriter of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Broadchurch and Doctor Who – will be the guest curator of From Page to Screen, Bridport’s Film Festival (22-26 April 2026) https://www.bridport-arts.com/fpts/
Kay Francis adorning the cover of Photoplay.
1. July 1932
2. February 1934
3. August 1935
She was the top female star and highest-paid actress at Warner Bros during this period, but is rarely remembered now. It would have been her 126th birthday today, so thought I'd wave the flag.
1. July 1932
2. February 1934
3. August 1935
She was the top female star and highest-paid actress at Warner Bros during this period, but is rarely remembered now. It would have been her 126th birthday today, so thought I'd wave the flag.
January 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Kay Francis adorning the cover of Photoplay.
1. July 1932
2. February 1934
3. August 1935
She was the top female star and highest-paid actress at Warner Bros during this period, but is rarely remembered now. It would have been her 126th birthday today, so thought I'd wave the flag.
1. July 1932
2. February 1934
3. August 1935
She was the top female star and highest-paid actress at Warner Bros during this period, but is rarely remembered now. It would have been her 126th birthday today, so thought I'd wave the flag.
1/4. Agatha Christie died 50 years ago today. Which seems like a sufficient excuse to highlight 3 of the earliest film adaptations of her work - sadly now all lost.
The Passing of Mr Quinn (Leslie S. Hiscott/Julius Hagen, UK, 1928). Based on Christie’s short story The Coming of Mr. Quin.
The Passing of Mr Quinn (Leslie S. Hiscott/Julius Hagen, UK, 1928). Based on Christie’s short story The Coming of Mr. Quin.
January 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
1/4. Agatha Christie died 50 years ago today. Which seems like a sufficient excuse to highlight 3 of the earliest film adaptations of her work - sadly now all lost.
The Passing of Mr Quinn (Leslie S. Hiscott/Julius Hagen, UK, 1928). Based on Christie’s short story The Coming of Mr. Quin.
The Passing of Mr Quinn (Leslie S. Hiscott/Julius Hagen, UK, 1928). Based on Christie’s short story The Coming of Mr. Quin.