How Green Was My Valley

Losing the Best Picture Oscar to this lyrical pastoral drama didn’t bother Orson Welles at all – for it was the work of his greatest cinematic hero. Translating Richard Llewellyn’s novel into elegant and eloquent images, John Ford tells a tale of memory that mirrors his own, evoking a fond recollection of his childhood in a Welsh valley surrounded by a coalmining community in a bygone era, and also a reminiscence of traditional values of home and family that have now been lost. Romance and conflict, joy and grief run through it, all imbued with great poetic charm and dignity, captured by Ford’s picturesque visual aesthetic juxtaposed with a sombre aura. It’s fitting that Clint Eastwood’s favourite Ford film is a non-Western, as both directors demonstrated that their talents extended beyond the confines of sheriffs and outlaws.

Academy Awards: 5 Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction

3/10 (Sat): Film talk with Kiki Fung