6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia

Director: Mark Cousins

Institute History

  • 2015 Sundance Film Festival

Description

The prolific Mark Cousins returned to the 2014 BFI London Film Festival with a meditation on one of England’s most emblematic authors in 6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia.

Out of his visit to the island of Sardinia in 1921, D.H. Lawrence wrote a travel book called Sea and Sardinia that described the land and its people’s timeless essence. Some 90-plus years later, director Mark Cousins goes to the island to understand the place and celebrated author. But instead of using the written word, Cousins relies on images.

Presented in part as a letter to Lawrence (or "Bert," as he lovingly calls him) and in part as an extended dialogue with the writer (as voiced by Jarvis Cocker), what follows is both a celebration and denunciation of the man himself. By mixing his brand of wry humor and deep historic insight with Lawrence's thoughts on fascism, masculinity, and history, Cousins again shows us the possibility of the cinematic essay in our century. —S.S.

— S.S

Screening Details

Credits

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