Last night I went with a couple of folk from church to see Amazing Grace at the 'Century Theatre' which is part of the local mining heritage centre where it functions primarily as an historical artefact.  Once a month they put on second-run and other 'worthy' films at the princely price of £2.50 all seats.  As it only seats 210, even a full house is not going to make a mint.

The programme we saw proved a hilarious combination...

Firstly from you tube, a humourous little offering here along with a reminder that it is dangerous to play on railways!!

Then a 1959 short called An Artist Looks at Churches (colour!) here I have to conclude that either life was very dull in the late 1950's or boring commentary was a sign of worth.  The churches themselves and the selection of examples shown were quite interesting but the commentator was soooo dull.

The main feature  Amazing Grace which was worth seeing, if inaccurate in places (e.g the tune used for the hymn) and quite challenging when we realise how little as really changed in all that time.  The forerunner of Fairtrade with sugar suppliers, people being trafficked, complex queastions about balance of justice for other nations with the needs of the poorer in our own land, or of those employed by oppressive or ethically questionable industries, the consequences for military persons sent overseas to fight in political wars...  How much of this was screen play writing in and how much was historically based I don't know but it made me think.

All in all a fascinating, and in expensive, evening out that seemed to speak to me on many levels about anachronisms, timelessness and determination.

Now I'm off (from Monday) to stroll along Hadrian's Wall, so it will be peace and quiet in this corner of blogland.