The Close – What Life in the UK is Really Like

If you are thinking of settling in any of the nations of the United Kingdom, then you are probably aware that you will have to take the Life in the UK test (which assesses applicants’ knowledge of British history, values, laws, traditions, and everyday civic responsibilities for citizenship).  However, I would advise you to watch this, as it is more informative about what really goes on here. So, instead of learning about Welsh Christmas traditions, or what the Scots do at Easter – or any of the other things that most of the people who were born in the UK don’t know about either, learn from this animated short instead.

The Close, by Birdbox Studio (and here hosted by the BBC) takes a close look (ah, couldn’t resist it) at everyday life in an average British street.  There’s the mum trying to get three dogs and a kid organised (sorry, that’s three kids and a dog), the grumpy old lady next door, the bashful teenagers, the one-night-standers, the randy decorators, the middle aged cyclist who really shouldn’t be wearing lycra, the home-worker with homicidal kids, the fellah who has a strange idea about masculine ideals. They’re all here. And so is the American interloper, the grey squirrel, who just wants to climb a tree but doesn't look like he has passed any tests for that recently.  Put these elements together and you will get a real impression of what life is like on a quiet British street.  Of course, like anything else British, behind the calm exterior there is usually just sheer chaos.

Hats off to writer and director Ant Blades and the team for creating something so funny and memorable. So, rip up your Life in the UK book and watch this instead.  You still might not pass the test, but at least it won’t have cost you fifty quid. And you might have learned something useful.

Temptation – Will Dave the Bungling Bear Get his Tasty Treats?

Meet Dave. Dave is a bear.  And he is hungry – always hungry.  And there is candy and other sweet treats everywhere.  Of course, in time-honoured toon tradition, he must have a nemesis who stands in his gluttonous path.  But spare a thought for Dave – he has two, in the shape of compulsive hoarder Roy the Squirrel and Audrey, the “Fearless Leader” of the local scout pack.  Oh dear. Poor Dave.  Will he ever manage to get his furry mitts on the goodies or will Roy and Audrey forever stand in his way?

He certainly has his work cut out for him, as did the bunch of Rubika students who produced this outstanding (and gleefully violent) animated short. The film was created by Camille Canonne (who came up with the original idea), Laura Bouillet, Michael Hoft, Catherine Le Quang, Pauline Raffin and Martin Villert, with music and sound design by Julien Auclair and Arthur Romain. Voice performances are provided by Arthur Romain, Julien Auclair and Coralie Vallias.  This is a superlative piece of animated glee, especially when you take into account that these are students working on a limited budget.  Fantastic – take a look below.

GCSE English Language Paper 1 2026 Predictions: What AQA’s Unseen Text Could Be

As an English teacher in the UK, each year I play a guessing game.  The game is “What will be the unseen text for GCSE English Language Paper 1?” (AQA board) and sometimes I am pretty close. Can I get it right in 2026?  

Last year, for example, I told my students I expected something like John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids to turn up, as science fiction hadn’t featured for a while in GCSE English Paper 1 (not since Ray Bradbury’s A Sound of Thunder in November 2018). Now, I didn’t get the novel right – it was The Midwich Cuckoos – but I did get the novelist.  

You're probably not too impressed with that, but you can go to the back of the class and be quiet for once.  Regardless, here are my predictions (aka guesses) for this year.

We Aren’t Unique: How Other Human Species Shaped Modern Human DNA (New Scientist Documentary)

We aren’t unique.  Once upon a time a number of different human species existed – not all at the same time but over the course of hundreds of thousands of years.  And, it seems, we got more than a little “Discovery Channel” with a lot of them.  So much so, that it has been established that a maximum of 7% of our DNA originated in our species, Homo Sapiens.  The rest came from other human species, the Neanderthals, Denisovans and some yet-to-be identified species who are still referred to as “ghost populations” as we haven’t yet discovered any remains.

This short documentary by New Scientist is presented by Ella al-Shamahi, who comes across as approachably clever, although I would never want to be playing against her in a game of chess.  Here she delves into the discoveries that rewrote human evolution in a clear and understandable way (you could call this Denisovans for Dummies if you wanted to get alliterative).  The documentary also covers not only why mating with already established human populations may have seemed like a good idea at the time to our ancestors, but the hidden cost of doing so.  It asks (and answers) questions about human origin that I may not have known I particularly wanted or needed to understand, but which are fascinating regardless.

Cocoon Is a Stunning Animated Short About Love, Obsession, and Violence

Cocoon really is something quite special – you can tell from the very beginning it is a labor of love by director Daixuan Yuan, who created this animated short for their third year film at CalArts. It draws together a number of elements from different writers and artists to become something of a synthesis – a complete piece of art in and of itself that is beautiful to look at and intriguing to watch.  Visually, it is exquisite,

The plot is inspired by Edogawa Ranpo’s novel, A Brute’s Love.  It follows a violent criminal who becomes obsessively devoted to a woman, leading to manipulation, psychological control, and escalating brutality as love and violence become indistinguishable ultimately together.  And yes, you get all of this in the short.  But then there is the art.  For that, Daixuan draws on Salvador Dali in particular, but there are other influences at play here – Asumiko Nakamura and Gustav Klimt were the first that came to mind.

This really is something quite extraordinary.  Watch the complete animated short below.  It's not an emotionally easy watch by any means, but has many rewards.

Cody Fry’s The Unlikely Mariner Review: A Cinematic Symphony That Defies Genre

Well, this certainly turned my head (and my ears).  The Unlikely Mariner by Cody Fry was something I wasn’t expecting at all, by sheer dint of the fact that this kind of music does not come along every day.  It is a cinematic symphony, telling the story of loss, grief and using the extended metaphor of a voyage at sea to recount the narrator/singer’s search for peace.

Like most symphonies, The Unlikely Mariner comes in four movements.  We first have “Can You Hear It?” where the narrator feels drawn to the sea, making a decision to venture out on his own to escape the pain of a separation.  The second movement is “Northern Lights” where the lyrics describe a metaphorical "bridge" between two worlds that caught fire, representing a damaged relationship and the lingering pain of the aftermath.  

Third comes “Sinking” , where there is a certain resignation to fate, and he drifts, questioning why such "evil" or tragedy occurs, and finding himself holding onto "broken pieces."  Finally there is “Softly, to The Sea” where the tone shifts toward memory and acceptance. He recalls the image of his loved one - her dress stained by grass, her smile like the sun - and finds comfort in the belief that "there's no wave that can drown love."

This is very much an ensemble piece with Fry very much at the center, both singing and conducting.  It features the SONUS choir and an extensive orchestra and was recorded at Ocean Way Studios. This performance was filmed at Vū Studio, where it looks like everyone got a little wet, but the video certainly creates an immersive and atmospheric oceanic experience while leaving plenty up to our own imaginations, too.  

The video (directed by Zac Diixon) had its premier at the Belcourt Cinema in Nashville on 15 May to a rapturous reception. The commenters on YouTube seem to have jumped right on board this particular boat, too (I couldn’t resist a maritime metaphor).  Fry himself posts: “Can't believe this is actually out in the world, 10 years in the making. I have the literal best fans...how did I get so lucky?”  Fans, too, are having their say.   One quite rightly says: “The Grammys better give you the nomination and the award for this.”, while another put this out there – “Disney sleeps, Cody Fry has insomnia. Incredible.”  Indeed.

The Unlikely Mariner is ambitious, immersive and difficult to categorize. This isn’t pop, this isn’t folk and this isn’t classical music.  It’s a hybrid of all three and as such stands out as one of the best pieces of music released this year.  It defies all and any expectations, really… I’m finding it difficult to find things to compare it with except vaguely, but I could (quite lazily) say that this is Cody Fry’s Bohemian Rhapsody.  

Going even further, when I was listening to this (I watched first, then played it again without the visuals), I was struck by how reminiscent I found this of Kate Bush’s Ninth Wave (the B-Side of her Hounds of Love album), even though the only connection between the two of them is the sea. It isn’t so much that I found them similar, musically, but in the depth of the artist’s vision and the desire to present something to an audience that factors them in – and brings them in, caresses them even – while somehow transcending them entirely. So much so, that you can imagine it was written especially for you (if you see what I mean, and I’m not sure that I do).

I also love that The Unlikely Mariner is referred to as Symphony No 1, which means that we could get another (but please try and get it to us in less than ten years, this time, Mr Fry!). You may want to take time out of your day to experience The Unlikely Mariner.  It will be worth it, I can assure you.

The Beautiful Butterfly Orchid

Look once, look again.

This is not a butterfly taking a rest on a piece of shrubbery. 

It is Psychopsis papilio – better known as the butterfly orchid.  It has petals of an incredible length which look like antennae and its speckled brown and yellow sepals look like outspread wings. 

Little wonder that this amazing orchid reputedly started the orchidmania of the 1800s. Image Credit

Alien Ant Farm – Reason (Official Video) - An Emotional Rock Track with Creeptoons Animation

My maths is not very good at the best of times, but if Alien Ant Farm formed in 1996, then this year is their thirtieth anniversary as a band.  That’s a long time to hold down the same job, but as this song – and the gloriously macabre Creeptoons animation that goes with it – shows, the band can still pump out a banger after three decades.  The end of that sentence sounds a little bit rude, reading it back, but no innuendo was intended, promise.  Some people are calling Reason a return to form (or just a return, frankly).  However, to most people, this will sound exactly like what it is – a great rock and roll number.

The lyrics center on themes of accountability, healing, and personal demons, with the singer expressing sincere apologies to a partner – “I swear to God, I won’t break your heart” is a great line by its virtuoso simplicity.  The song has emotional rock vocals from Dryden Mitchell paired with driving guitar and rhythm sections. The animation mirrors the intensity and raw emotion of the lyrics, particularly highlighting the struggle to overcome internal obstacles and the desire for reconciliation. It is a great accompaniment to the track - and the band look great with a zillion teeth each.  Plus the sight of a giant alien ant rampaging through a city is something to behold!

Watch Alien Ant Farm’s Reason below.

The Strangest Exoplanets Discovered by Hubble - 6,000 Alien Worlds and Counting

In 1990, the were zero known exoplanets.  Now, 36 years after the space telescope was launched, we know of 6,000 – and counting.  It has moved beyond simply discovering exoplanets to studying atmospheres, detecting water vapor, sodium, helium, and carbon compounds.  In other words, it’s helping us to detect whether or not there’s life (or the truth) out there and this video gives us a glimpse of some of the stranger planets the space telescope has discovered.

Take for example a "football-shaped" planet called WASP-121b, deformed by intense tidal forces and losing heavy metals like magnesium and iron into space.  Then there is GJ3470b, an evaporating "Neptunized" planet that has lost approximately 35% of its atmosphere.  This is probably not the right thing to spring to mind, but I would love to have less catalogued names for these planets.  Couldn’t The International Astronomical Union (IAU), which sometimes approves public names through international campaigns, organise a cosmic lottery, whereby winners could give these planets a name?  True, we would probably end up with Planet McPlanetface, but I would love to name one Kuriositas, that’s for certain sure!

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center’s new video is a fascinating watch about these fascinating worlds with strange names.

Dover Pharos: One of the World’s Last Surviving Roman Lighthouses

Did you know that there are only three surviving Roman lighthouses in the world?  One, the Tower of Hercules in Spain has been featured on Kuriositas back in 2011. The UK is also home to one of them – the Dover Pharos.  Now, it could be argued that it has seen better days (and it has certainly seen many of them), but it is amazing that it has survived at all, considering the Romans left Britain over 1600 years ago.  This video looks at the history of the building – both inside and outside.

Situated in the heart of Dover Castle, the Dover Pharos was built in the early 2nd century AD, once forming a pair that helped to guide ships across the English Channel or as they called it, the Oceanus Britannicus, which translates as the “British Ocean” or “Britannic Ocean.”  The other lighthouse, on the west side of Dover has long gone; all that is left is its foundations.  The Dover Pharos does, in fact, owe its survival because it was repurposed once the Romans had left and Christianity had taken hold.

This fascinating mini-documentary was created by Historic England and English Heritage and is presented by Chris Reade, who is an Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Historic England. She is joined by Roy Porter, Senior Curator of Properties for English Heritage. As such, this video is like watching two very knowledgeable people having a chat about something they self-evidently adore (although Reade does most of the presenting and the BBC should grab her as a presenter!).  She delves into why the lighthouse was built, what it would have looked like and when and how it was repurposed. Result – a fascinating story of one of the UK’s oldest standing buildings.

Rise Age Short Film - Mesmerising Animation About Environmental Collapse

It may take you a while to fully comprehend what the title of this intriguing animated short means – for me, it had to be made explicit at the end…  Yet there is something quite mesmerising about this animated short by Tatjana Theuer, who created this while doing her postgraduate course in Motion Design at the FilmakademieBaden-Württemberg.  As a “student film” this is astonishingly mature work.

It tells the story of a community of sea-slug type creatures, happy in their carefree crawliness which is orchestrated and coordinated from above by a choir.  Yet as they go about their daily lives, something invisible threatens their way of life – but even after one group after another disappears, nothing seems to stop them from going about their business. Still, one by one they disappear.  This is all accompanied by the mesmeric “song” of their leaders, that with only small pauses as the destruction overtakes them, carries on regardless.  It was only towards the end I realised that this was about our rising sea levels and how we have done little or nothing to prevent it – in fact, we are the cause.

Take a look at Rise Age, which has to be one of the more charismatic animated shorts presented by students this year  – it is as thought provoking as it is entertaining.

Kindergarten Kids React to Visiting the Louvre — Their Awe Is Priceless

The Louvre may be the most famous museum in the world, with thousands of visitors every day,, but on Tuesdays it is closed to the public. However, this group of kindergarteners managed to break in and steal lots of treasures… no, not really.  They were there because their teacher is part of the CLEF programme, which allows groups of young students to visit the museum, participating in the Tuesdays at the Louvre initiative.  After all, when you are just so high, it’s hard to get a glimpse of the exhibits with lots of grown ups around.

This group had a chance to offer their reactions to the art on display, particularly those in the Hall of the Caryatids .  Their little gasp of astonishment and awe as they entered the room is absolutely priceless; you know that this museum is getting it right simply from this initial collective “oooh”.  Then they get to see the statuary and seem particularly taken with Artemis – Goddess of the Hunt (showing impeccable taste; also known as the Diana of Versailles, this statue has been in France since 1556, it is roughly 1,800–2,000 years old today and in astonishingly good condition). Their reaction comments – like the art – are priceless.

Watch the video below:

If You Have Never Wanted to Visit Seville, You Will After You Watch This

Sevilla’s Metropol Parasol has never looked like this before, and that’s because it’s transitioning.  If you just spat your coffee out, perhaps you have misinterpreted.  The city’s third most visited urban landmark has been filmed by Hyperlapse Professional Kirill Neiezhmakov, whose mission is to capture as many of the world’s famous landmarks on film as possible – and then do extraordinary things with it.  In his hyperlapses, his aim is to create seamless morphing transitions between locations (hence the parasol reference!).  This makes a beautiful and already very interesting city seem even more dreamlike, as streets, skylines and structures appear to bend and flow into one another with impossible smoothness. The result is a hypnotic visual journey through Seville.

Sevilla was never been top of my “go to” cities in Spain – apologies.  Yet, having seen this it has certainly gone up a few places on the list. Through Neiezhmakov’s lens, Seville looks vibrant, futuristically historic and full of energy, proving that sometimes a fresh perspective can completely transform the way we see a city.  This is just gorgeous.  Sevilla’s city council should put this on their website!

This Dungeons & Dragons Musical Celebrates the Agony of Rolling a Natural 1

 

If you have played tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, then you are probably aware of the term Natural 1.  It is tabletop gaming slang for rolling the lowest possible score on a 20-sided die. Not only that, it usually signals a catastrophic failure: the hero misses the target, fumbles the spell, or somehow turns a simple task into a disaster. Because the number is rolled naturally on the die, before bonuses are added, players call it a “natural” 1 — or simply, a “nat 1.”

So, Arin Jacobelli and Sho Xia, students at Ringling College of Art and Design and self-proclaimed massive nerds and D&D enthusiasts, came together to create a musical homage (if you can call it that) to Natural 1.  It follows Richard, a very unlucky bard who only rolls Natural 1s.  That’s a blow to any bard’s self-esteem, especially when his companion, Bonk the Barbarian (I wonder if Bonk means the same thing in the US as it does in the UK?) rolls only Natural 20s. 

As you will see, Richard ultimately resolves that even a lifetime of Natural 1s is OK, if you have your best buddy next to you…

Muse Return to Sci-Fi Glory in Stunning New “Cryogen” Official Video

Ahead of their North American tour, Muse have just released the official video for Cryogen.  Many fans are agreeing that the song, as well as the official video, show a return to form for the British band (and the space croissant is back too!).   The video leans heavily into the band’s well-know sci-fi aesthetic.  There’s icy space imagery, themes of isolation and something darker, mor emotional than some of their recent singles. Plus the scale is truly cinematic – this would look (even more) awesome on the big screen.

Fans have already comparing the atmosphere to older Muse eras like Origin of Symmetry and Black Holes and Revelations because of the spiralling guitar riffs and apocalyptic visuals.   Although it is hard to disagree, to me this also feels and sounds different - a return and a departure?

Muse fans have also been claimed that this is the closest the band has come in years to recapturing the eerie grandeur of their early work. One fan declared that the song “genuinely channels the intensity, atmosphere, and ambition that made early Muse so compelling in the first place”, while another joked that “nature decided to cosplay as a horror movie” after discovering that the blood-red Antarctic waterfall shown in the video is a real phenomenon known as Blood Falls. Elsewhere, viewers marvelled at the band’s now fully cosmic aesthetic - “I always knew that Muse came from another planet!” wrote one commenter - while others focused on the music itself, especially the climactic finale, praising “that killer outro” and the moment “where they all get a mini solo”. Predictably, the fanbase also found time to worry about drummer Dominic Howard, with one popular comment pleading: “here to not break Dom’s heart.”

Harry Styles ‘Dance No More’ - Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Those Red Shorts

Well, Mr Styles.  You’ve done it again.  Harry Styles’ video for Dance No More has quickly become an event since it dropped (about three hours ago at the time of writing) and is threatening to break YouTube’s servers, such is the demand.  And who could blame people for pressing the play button?  To say Harry has an eager audience would be something of an understatement – it currently stands at 15.4 million subscribers (that’s the combined population of Estonia, Iceland and Rwanda if you’re interested). So, needless to say the video is being watched by many people as you read this.

It is quite something, too.  Directed by Colin Solal Cardo, a French filmmaker, photographer, and music video director based in Paris, the video begins. Now, this is a really funky number and reminds me a little of some of Prince’s work in the 80s.  It’s spare, fluidly rhythmic and very, very knowing.  Oh, it's D-I-S-C-O too, but in a good way. It’s also something of a celebration of the sense of togetherness being on the dancefloor brings, that release that comes with physical effort.  It’s also pretty funny. I don’t exactly mean that Harry Styles is sending anything up, but he is certainly having a lot of cheeky fun here.

Talking of cheeks, they’re not on display, but Harry’s legs certainly are and these seem to be provoking most of the comments!  Unafraid to get most of his body parts out for the masses, Harry’s red shorts are creating quite a buzz – which may or may not say a lot about the current state of western civilisation.  I will leave that up to you to decide, but have to share a few comments.  One says: “jaw? dropped. ass? shaken. mother? respected. kiss? all the time. disco? Occasionally”  Which does just about sum the whole thing up. Over to you, Harry!

Pumpkin Spring – The Grand Canyon’s Arsenic Pool

Below the rim of the Grand Canyon runs the beautiful Colorado River.  Many take trips down its length but among the majestic scenery is something which they do not quite expect – a huge, enormous gourd-like squash. Jutting out from the canyon wall and perched above the river, this highly unusual formation is known as Pumpkin Spring.

Photograph by kind permission of Flickr user Roger Steeb

Watch Luke Evans as Frank-N-Furter on The Tonight Show – ‘Sweet Transvestite’ Performance Stuns

Back in January we featured Luke Evans singing I’m Going Home, in civvies, in preparation for his new role as Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show.  Now he has performed with the entire cast on The Tonight Show – in full costume.  The song? Why Sweet Transvestite, of course.  It’s a difficult role for any actor – Tim Curry’s boots were so big (and his corset so tight) that comparisons are always inevitably made.  From the looks of the comments below the video, it seems that Evans’ performance is winning favor.  This isn’t just because he makes a few knowing nods to the original, but because he makes the role his own.

Jimmy Fallon certainly looks very happy to introduce the number from the show, currently doing its Transylvanian thing at Studio 54 on Broadway (New York, USA!).  And the cast are in their element too – we get glimpses of Janet Weiss (Stephanie Hsu), Brad Majors (Andrew Durand), Magenta (Juliette Lewis) and the rest of the ensemble but we get two eyeballs full of Luke Evans.  Resplendent is hardly the world and he looks in his absolute element.  The great Welsh voice is in full throttle and his delivery is absolutely spot-on – he belts out the number with great gusto.  Physically, too, he fits the part - he is probably going to give Rocky a run for his money when it comes to muscles! This is not an impersonation as much as a reinvention.  I’m not entirely convinced by that moustache, though…

The comments, too have put a smile on my face.  Some diehard original fans have not reacted well, but generally the comments are overwhelmingly positive. One gleefully says: “I love how they chose the one song that would offend all the right people”, while another spurts: “Man, Gaston really found himself when he got rejected by Belle. LOL (This performance is amazing!)”.  I think I have to point a final comment out - “he makes Frank his own just as David Bedella, Anthony Head and Laverne Cox have in the past.”  Agreed.

Exam Stress: 3 Proven Ways to Stay Calm and Reduce Anxiety During Exams

As the GCSE exams approach in the UK, I thought I would give a little advice, but in the style of an exam response for GCSE English Language (AQA board).  It’s a difficult time for many, so I would like to share the three ways that I coped with exams when I was a student... a long, long time ago in an exam hall far far away.  I hope, too, that it will help students with preparing for their GCSE English exam, as I have tried to show – as well as I can – the skills needed to get a very high grade for writing an article (if that even comes up).  This may be a little too long for a GCSE response in the real exam (I timed myself at 45 minutes but I have been writing this kind of thing for decades).

If you are doing your GCSEs this year, you could have some fun by marking this! What grade would you give it? OK, here’s the question, formatted as a Paper 2 Question 5 article. 

OK, will give it a title and then get on with it!

Exam Stress: how can we stay calm when it matters most?

If you ask me, exams cause way too much stress.  However, as there is no better way to measure national achievement – apparently – we have to put up with them.  As an older teacher (I know my students would probably say “ancient” is a better adjective), I would like to offer a few words of advice, especially as we get closer to the exams.  Some of it is advice I was given as a teenager, other bits and pieces I learned for myself along the way!

Why are Crows Wrecking My Bird Bath? Eggs, Chaos and Garden Wildlife in South East London

Over at our sibling site, the Ark in Space, is a piece about my garden – or rather the crows that come to visit it to take advantage of its amenities! They are clever birds, these corvids, and are very, very quick to take advantage of anything and everything their habitat has to offer.  As it's suburban South East London, that means whatever its human inhabitants have to offer.  My garden comes with free bathing facilities for them (no, I don’t charge) which can lead to a photo opportunity or two.  I think I may have been inspired by Sir David Attenborough's most recent series, Secret Gardens, which was a very pleasant watch and perhaps encouraged me to write this piece.  Crows love a bath, after all, so why not share their antics?  But do they really have to wreck the bird bath in the process? Go take a peek at the Ark in Space.

Star Wars Day 2026: Celebrate May the 4th with Iconic Heroes and a Special Video

Happy Star Wars Day 2026! Every 4 May, fans around the world celebrate the galaxy far, far away made famous by Lucasfilm. From Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader to Princess Leia, Han Solo and Yoda, the saga continues to inspire generations.

To mark Star Wars Day, take a look at this special video from El Archivista de la Fuerza (translated as The Archivist of the Force), exploring the legacy of the Force and its heroes.  I think that this has every major Star Wars character ever in it at one point or another – and it’s beautifully put together.  So, join the celebration, share your favourite moments, and may the Force be with you - always.

100 Crimes and a Pint Too Many: The Tragicomic Life of Birmingham’s Charles Paige

I came across this video a few months ago, and didn’t get around to featuring it but it stuck in my mind. Or, rather, the story of Charles Paige did.  He was well-known in and around Birmingham (the one in the UK, not the one in Alabama) for being something of a nuisance around the pubs of England’s second city. It's a tale both comedic in parts but ultimately deeply tragic - but for some reason my mind kept wandering back to the life of this hapless, hopeless, half-cut huckster - Mr Charles Paige.

The story is brought to life by yourfamilyline, a YouTube channel with an associated website, dedicated to  “telling the stories of forgotten lives, and bringing their voices back into the light through detailed research and digital storytelling”.  It looks like it’s a one man show, which makes it all the more impressive and has a growing number of subscribers. (The picture used at the top of this post is an AI rendition of Charles Paige and not affiliated with yourfamilyline).

Paige was an inveterate alcoholic and well-known to the police. In fact, over the decades spanning the late 1890s to the early 1920s, Paige was convicted numerous times, and reached his “century” (his 100^th offence) towards the end of his criminal career.  The constabulary at local police stations must have rolled their eyes each time he rolled in…

No personal record was left by Charles Paige, which is a shame as we get one side of the story – that left behind in court and newspaper archival material.  He was infamous for his confidence tricks – posing as someone who might wish to purchase a large amount of alcohol from a pub (you could do that, then) and asking for free tasters to ascertain what he should buy.  That sounds like a good trick and many landlords (who are certainly not known for their gullibility) fell for it, which shows that he had a certain knack – he was able to present himself in a way that persuaded people that his requests were legitimate. Some say that his ghost haunts the pubs and canalsides of Birmingham to this day.

There are many comedic elements in Charles Paige’s story, but also an underlying and profound sadness. After all, it is a story of alcoholism, a chronic, relapsing brain disease – an oh boy, did Paige relapse. Although it seems he spent time getting help in “certified inebriate reformatories” this leopard did not change its spots.  Handled correctly, I think Paige’s story could be the basis of a very good British comedy-drama.  I'm already casting in my mind - perhaps Toby Jones, Reece Shearsmith or Mark Rylance? No, if I was the casting director, the job would go to Steve Pemberton.  I’m now blathering on – have a watch of the story of Charles Paige and make your own judgement about him – after all, he was quite used to other people doing that…

The Milky Way – Facts About Our Galaxy You Never Thought You Needed to Know

The ancient Greeks were the first to realise that we were just a tiny part of something much, much larger and they called it The Milky Circle.  After something of a rebrand, we now know it as The Milky Way.  At its center (which is also known as The Bulge) is a supermassive black hold, and that’s why the galaxy is like a spiral.  We are 30,000 light years (give or take) away from the center… but did you know that the supermassive black hole has a name? It’s Sagittarius A* (like it’s achieved a very high grade in an exam). 

You can find out a host of other interesting facts about our galaxy (and a couple of our next door neighbors) by watching this fascinating animated short by the Greenwich Royal Observatory.  Although I suspect it is aimed mostly for kids, I do like it when science is explained in a fairly simple way, because that way I can just about keep up!

Watch the video below.

The West Hood Story (WESTHOODSTORY) – A Dance Film by Shay Latukolan

Dutch choreographer and dancer Shay Latukolan has taken Spanish Grease by Willie Bobo and created The West Hood Story (it seems to be listed as WESTHOODSTORY even though the film's title sequence splits up the words), which must be one of the best dance films - if not the best - created so far this year.  From the get go, it is obvious that a lot of time, energy and love has been ploughed into its creation and it hits the nail right on the metaphorical head.  I think if Willie Bobo was still alive, he would absolutely adore this interpretation of his classic 1965 number.

The story is simple and straightforward (I’m tempted to say it's a tale as old as time, but that’s really a universe away).  A beautiful young woman makes something of a grand entrance to a dance hall and immediately turns the heads of all the young men in the place, causing just a little antagonism between them as they compete to catch her eye and win her heart.  Their attempts all fail, but her choice of Maxi, the local nerd, ultimately spurs them on to continue their hunt for some loving back in the dance hall.  This may sound like a lot to fit into a five minute dance film, but Shay pulls it all together brilliantly, using some fantastic choreographic shorthand to tell the story and we’re left feeling almost as if we’ve just watched an entire movie in balletic fast-forward.

As Bobo’s most famous track, Spanish Grease was the perfect choice for this dance film.  It’s a key example of 1960s Latin jazz crossover into pop and soul and is generally considered way, way ahead of its time.  And although the video pays homage to those times, in wardrobe and atmosphere (with plenty of West Side Story nods), as well as the music, of course, this comes across as something very modern, very 2026.  I’m not sure where this was filmed, although I suspect London because of the accents of some of the dancers in the spoken-word elements of the film, but the only thing that struck me as missing was the smoke that would have filled a dance hall like this in the 1960s.  To our modern noses, it would have royally stunk – but there is atmosphere aplenty here without it.  I think one of the film's greatest strengths is how so many of the dancers come off as well-formed characters – an incredibly hard thing to do in five minutes.

The comments about WESTHOODSTORY are effusive to say the least.  One says “Simply incredible choreo, direction, and execution as always! Shay your work belongs in a full-length feature on The West End and Broadway!” which, you know, cannot be disagreed with. Another uses hardly any adjectives at all; it just says “The style, swag, vibe, tone, choreography, and creative direction”.  Yet another says: “I’ve watched this piece 7 times already back to back! I doubt it’ll be my last one”. Yes to all.  And thank you Shay Latukolan and team for bringing this superb piece of art to the world and giving Spanish Grease the video it has needed for 61 years!  Watch it below (as many times as you want).

Farewell – An Animated Short by Luke Lee

As we grow up, there are always decisions to be made about our future direction – and some of them are not without their own fair share of pain, even though they are the right decisions and our hearts and heads must be followed.  Often, these decisions involve leaving others behind, however metaphorically, and this can often be difficult to accept, producing bewilderment, sorrow, even anger.  At times like these the mix of emotions often seem unbearable… but still the decision must be made and it is time to leave.

This remarkable animated short by Luke Lee (aka binsoo) tells such a tale.  A pair of brothers with a close bond enjoy a pastoral life, looking after a huge flock of very knowing sheep.  Yet the age gap between them means that one reaches young adulthood first and makes the decision to take his musical skills to a wider audience – the ewes and their lambs are appreciative but he needs more. And so, the difficult decision is reached, and the younger brother will be inevitably left behind.  Yet the older sibling leaves him a gift…

I don’t want to give to much away here, as it’s up to you to watch Farewell and take away from it what you will.  As one of the commenters says “That was an entire Studio Ghibli movie in 7 minutes, impressive” – and yes, there are influences on display. However, Farewell is very much its own story told in its own style.  It is Lee’s final piece from his time at Calarts, and I hope that having made so much of his time at the prestigious Californian seat of higher learning, that he enjoys a long and productive career in the visual arts.  Watch Farewell below.

Blinded by the Flag – New Banksy Statue in Central London

A new work of art by Banksy appeared overnight (29 April) in London’s Waterloo Place.  It depicts a man marching, his chest pumped in patriotic pride, holding his nation’s flag aloft.  Unfortunately for him, the flag has blinded him, swathing itself around his head so that he has no idea in which direction he is marching.  As luck wouldn’t have it, he is marching proudly towards an abyss (or in this case off the plinth).  It’s a strikingly simple visual metaphor, but one with great premonitory depth. Image

As ever with Banksy, the work of art arrived without  notification or fanfare – although he has now confirmed on Instagram that he created it.   It is situated in Waterloo Place, in the St James are of the borough of Westminster.  The location is craftily chosen for such an anti-imperialist piece, as Waterloo Place is littered with statues commemorating Britain’s past habit of stepping foot into countries without invitation.  You do not have to walk far to encounter statues of Florence Nightingale (and the Crimean War Memorial) as well as one of Edward VII.  The artist, who remains anonymous not just because that’s how it has always been but because he has been the target of threatening extremist behaviour, obviously thought long and hard about where to place the statue.

The statue in gold you can see behind Banksy's piece is one of Athena (also known as Minerva), the goddess of both wisdom and war.  She seems, almost, to be greeting the new statue - to acknowledge, perhaps, the inherent contradiction of wisdom and war.

We Were Here Once – A Letter to the Ones Beyond the Stars

Voyager 1 and 2 each carried a Golden Record, a disc which carried sounds, images, music and greetings from our planet to anyone or anything that might come across the spacecraft as they travel through interstellar space.  Yet what would you write if you were to send your own missive to the ones beyond the stars?  This deeply thought-provoking short film by Véras Fawaz focuses on an elderly gentleman, approaching death with quiet dignity, who is about to send his final message. 

As well as being a beautiful piece of film-making, with the visual richness of a full-length movie, the message that the old man sends into space is something very special.  Shaped by the awareness of his own mortality, as well as that of those he loves and loved, the letter presents us as fragile, yet driven and very, very, well, human. It confronts issues that are very twenty-first century – how we fill our lives with stories and screens to cope with fear, even though that might make us feel more disconnected than ever.  The old man identifies love as the defining human force, on which is quiet, enduring and found in moments both ordinary and extraordinary.  It sends to the stars a simple message – that humans feel, fear and love.  And even as we edge towards death, we still hope to connect. 

Watch We Were Here Once below.

GENER8ION - Storm starring Yung Lean – A Visceral Dance Performance

Set in Leeds in 2034, GENER8ION’s new video for Storm, with Swedish rapper, singer, and songwriter Yung Lean taking the lead, is something very, very different. It is immediately reminiscent of “If…” the 1968 satirical drama set in a strict boys’ boarding school where the students rebel and things escalate into chaos.  I’m not sure if that is where the inspiration for this video came from, but I was also reminded of the character of Mondain, the older, aggressive student who arrives partway through 2002’s Les Choristes and proceeds to terrorise the school.  Lean plays one such student, who rules the school through a combination of sheer thuggery and menacing charm. Throw a little single-sex Battle Royale and a slice of Lord of the Flies into the mix and you get Storm. As you might expect, the video is brimming with testosterone and hats off to these boys - they don’t hold back.

Remember, though: chaos almost always has a still center. Like the eye of a hurricane.

In case you haven’t come across GENER8ION before, it is the stage name of Surkin, a French electronic music producer. He uses the GENER8ION name for a more experimental, audio-visual project that blends electronic music with striking visuals and film-style storytelling. One of the best-known works under this name is the track The New International Sound (Part II), which has a powerful, cinematic feel and a famous video set in a Chinese martial arts school.  I have a feeling that this video is going to become equally as (in)famous.  The first part comes across, as I have said, like “If…” on acid.

Yet it is the second part of this music video that makes it so special, extraordinary even.  It's the end of the academic year - the end of school for these particular reprobates! The boys line up for a school photo, with Lean at its heart and then they dance.  Finally they dance. And oh boy, do they dance. The choreography by Damien Jalet is superb, and the whole ensemble is directed with great panache by Romain Gavras.  One of the commenters on YouTube said “AI – good luck trying to do something like this”.  Well, that’s because this isn’t just a very clever music video that contains a bit of dancing.  This is art.  Another commenter said “Easily one of the best music videos I’ve ever seen. And I’m old.”  I agree.  This is phenomenal.

So, what is the fuss all about? Watch the video below.

 

Apocalypse Dog

This animated short is a blast from start to finish… it could easily form the basis of an excellent video game.  It tells the story of Bob and Pasha (the apocalypse dog of the title), who go about their business scavenging a living, with everything they own tottering and teetering on top of their rusty, dilapidated old car.  Bob does, frankly, look a little too well-fed for someone living after the end of the world as we know it, but perhaps the wasteland is full of calories as well as dangers.  His companion Pasha, who I think might be a miniature Doberman (definitely as wilful as some I have met!), is the more gregarious of the two – and it is his inclination to go in search of the source of a tantalising aroma that causes a rift in their relationship… and exposes both to great danger.

Told at breakneck speed, Apocalypse Dog successfully uses a number of cunning structural devices to tell its story - right up to the end - as well as changes in animation style.  It’s a fantastic piece of animation from a group of students at Rubika (in Valenciennes, France) which would be great as a supporting feature at the movies.  I particularly like the facial expressions that both Bob and Pasha use to communicate their thoughts and feelings.  All told, this is an animated short brimming with vitality and humour.  It is quite amazing to think that this is an undergraduate project,  given the high quality of both the animation and storyline.

Apocalypse Dog was directed by Aziliz Le Clainche, Camille Nasarre, Jing Qian, Juliette Barraux, Emma Plumey, Lucile Arnaud and Solène Cauchie. The music was composed by Cyrille Marchesseau, with sound design by Valentin Petiteau, and features voice work from Michel Elias (shout out here – great emotional communication using little more than grunts!).