In April, we are showing three documentary films about different environments: city, sea and land. The first on the 10^th is about life in a Russian city in the 1920s. On the 17^th, the film explores the relationship between the British people and the sea. Finally, on the 24^th Paul Wright’s film looks at the mystical relationship between folk traditions, our environment and the land. The films all start at 7.30pm and admission is £5.00.

The films are three of the most famous full-length documentaries in the British Film Institute (BFI) Collection, who have given us permission to show them. 

Museum Director Stuart Burroughs will introduce each film and refreshments will be available to purchase.

Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Man with a Movie Camera is an experimental Russian film by Dziga Vertov and edited by his wife Elizaveta Svilova. Vertov’s feature film, presents urban life in the Soviet cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Moscow and Odessa. There are no actors. From dawn to dusk, Soviet citizens interact with the machinery of modern life as they work and play. To the extent that the film can be said to have “characters,” they are the cameraman of the film title, the film editor, and the modern Soviet Union they discover and present.

From the Sea to the Land Beyond (2015)

This film explores a century of life on Britain’s coastline with footage from the BFI National Archive. The film uses a mixture of colour and black and white footage that stretch back to the earliest days of movie making. It explores social history, life in wartime and peacetime, women’s history, and the rise and fall of fishing and shipbuilding. Directed by Penny Woolcock, this documentary feature film has an original soundtrack by British musical group British Sea Power.

Arcadia (2018)

Arcadia is a new film from BAFTA award-winning Scottish director Paul Wright that explores our complex relationship with the land. The film uses over 100 archive film clips from the last 100 years. It has a grand, expressive new score from Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).The film goes on a sensory, visceral journey through the contrasting seasons. It explores the beauty and brutality, magic and madness of our changing relationship with the land and with each other. Co-produced by Common Ground, Arcadia’s funding came from the BFI, Creative Scotland and the BBC.

Young people can spend a day at the Museum of Bath at Work taking photographs with the Bath Photo Club. The museum presents interesting photographic challenges: low light levels, glass reflections and capturing fine detail. You will receive tips on dealing with these and other problems, and learn different photographic techniques. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions. As you tour the museum, you will also learn about the history of Bath. Snap Back in Time is on 9^th April during the spring holiday break, and is suitable for ages 9-15.

Date:                                     Tuesday 9^th April 2019

Time:                                    10.30 am to 2.30 pm

Venue:                                 The Museum of Bath at Work

Age:                                      9-15

Cost:                                    £10 per person (payable to The Photo Club not the museum)

Book/Pay:                           THE-PHOTO-CLUB@Hotmail.com

The Museum of Bath at Work will be working throughout the year with Kez Hawkins and the Bath Photo Club.  They will be producing an exhibition of photographs – taken by young people – of their surroundings and of what matters to them. The exhibition will be part of the Museum’s continuing ‘Knowing Your Place‘ project, which began with a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Stuart Burroughs said ‘ It is great to be working with Kez and her group. We are getting yet another perspective – a photographic one- of the city of Bath. I hope the arrangement with the Bath Photo Club will continue.’

For more information or to book a place please email Kez at

THE-PHOTO-CLUB@Hotmail.com

Join us on April 10^th at 12.30 to watch four more films from the GPO film unit. The cost is £5.00. The films are jointly organised and publicised by the Bath Postal Museum and ourselves. The two museums will share the proceeds.

The General Post Office created the GPO film unit in 1933. The Unit soon became internationally renowned as a centre for creative, exciting public information films. The films deal with various aspects of the GPOs work in the 1930s, and give an evocative record of that era.

The Fairy of the Phone: Post Office Telephones and Telegrams

Featuring:                 

Sixpenny Telegram (1935)

The Coming of the Dial (1933)

The Fairy of the Phone (1936)

The Heavenly Post Office (1938).

A charming collection of films presenting to the public the new GPO services.  The opportunities provided by sending and receiving telegrams, and the advantages of getting a telephone for your home or business. Introduced by Museum Director Stuart Burroughs.

The films last about an hour.        

A light lunch of sandwiches will be available to purchase.

Look out for the next screenings in our Spring Film Season. In April, we have a series of evening films that relate to different environments: The City, The Sea and the Land. In May, the last two GPO films are about the Post Office Savings Bank. At the end of May we have films from the Bath fringe.