FILTER SCREEN
In The Court Of The Crimson King: King Crimson At 50
★★★★
Dir: Toby Amies
MONODUO FILMS. C/S
A peek behind the curtain at prog’s most singular group.
When Robert Fripp asked Toby Amies in 2018 to make a film about King Crimson, Amies wasn’t particularly a fan, but accepted as he knew Fripp and found him interesting. Filmed largely behind the scenes, it’s an incisive observation of a senior band playing demanding music on lengthy tours. Amies captures revealing interviews with current and former members, but felt he was “in the way” at times, noting that “people got annoyed and antagonistic towards me”. Fripp requested Amies re-shoot a second version with more of him in it, but clearly stressed by the situation, he is at times cantankerous, even hostile, then becomes overwhelmed with emotion when recounting a conversation with his spiritual mentor J.G. Bennett. There are moving scenes featuring drummer Bill Rieflin, dry and phlegmatic despite having received a terminal cancer diagnosis, and vox pops with Crimson fans – including a prog rock nun – offer light relief.
Mike Barnes
Release the bats!: the inspirationally extremist Birthday Party (from left) Mick Harvey, Rowland S Howard, Tracy Pew, Nick Cave and Phill Calvert.