Join us at FormaHQ for a special screening event bringing all three works fromThe Open Road together for the very first time.
Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella, The Amelia Scott, Cement Fields, FLAMIN, Forma, and Three Rivers, The Open Road reimagines the timeless tale of a journey taken through three new moving image works by renowned artists David Blandy, Amaal Said, and Sam Williams.
Loosely inspired by The Canterbury Tales, each film charts a distinct path, drawing on various storytelling traditions to explore ideas of migration and belonging, untold histories, and the deep connections between humans and the more-than-human world.
In David Blandy’s Commons, a series of stories are told by multiple voices; like the Pilgrims of Chaucer’s Tales, the non-human subjects and objects tell each other chronicles of their experience, over years or millennia, deliberately decentring human existence.
In Amaal Said’s Open Country, a mother and daughter set out on a journey from their London home along the Old Kent Road, tracing the pilgrims’ way. Inspired by a longing to connect with family abroad, the film explores the tension between being present in the here and now and yearning for another place.
Sam Williams’ The Eel’s Tale explores themes of boundaries, transgression and movement through human and non-human journeys in the wetland landscapes of Kent. With a series of intertwined vignettes, the film reconsiders the borders that separate us from each other, the land, and our multispecies kin, and asks: “Are we free to move?
Together, these three works offer poetic and urgent takes on movement through time, place, and identity. You will have the chance to hear directly from David Blandy, Amaal Said, and Sam Williams as they reflect on their films, sharing insights into their creative processes, inspirations, and the stories behind each work – exploring the ideas and journeys at the heart of The Open Road.
The Open Road is commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella, The Amelia Scott, Cement Fields, FLAMIN, Forma, and Three Rivers. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
The programme for The Open Road extends across the London and Kent area, encompassing a series of solo presentations, community engagement initiatives, and curated screenings. Find out more.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP here