Of Time and the City

Of Time and the City is a British documentary-drama film directed by Terence Davies. The movie is a nostalgic exploration of the city of Liverpool, England where the filmmaker was born and raised. The 2008 film was well received by critics and won several awards including Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

The film is a personal retelling of the city’s history, captured through Davies’ perspective as he revisits his childhood memories. The documentary is narrated by the director and features a mix of archive footage, still photos and newly-shot scenes of the city. Famous musician George Harrison also makes an appearance in the film, sharing his own memories of growing up in Liverpool.

Of Time and the City is also a tribute to Liverpool’s cultural and social legacy, which the filmmaker draws from his own upbringing in the city. We see Davies revisit historical landmarks such as the Liverpool Cathedral, the Mersey docks and the city’s once-famous ferry service. Through the eyes of the filmmakers, the viewer gains a sense of the unique charm and cultural richness that typified Liverpool, despite its troubled past.

The film also highlights some of Liverpool’s social and economic challenges, such as the decline of its once-thriving trade and the poverty that plagued many of the city’s residents. Through his narration, Davies brings to life the city’s working-class neighborhoods, including Toxteth, where he grew up. He depicts the poverty, housing difficulties, and general despair that many people living in Liverpool experienced in the 1950s and 60s.

Despite these struggles, Davies also paints a portrait of the resilience, hope and camaraderie that characterized Liverpool’s working-class population. He expresses his admiration for the humor, creativity, and warmth of the people he grew up with in the city. These moments of levity and hope are well conveyed through the film’s carefully curated soundtrack which features songs by the Liverpool bands, The Beatles and Echo and the Bunnymen.

One of the film’s most notable aspects is the way Davies explores his own homosexuality and coming-of-age in the city. Through his narration, he comments on the social taboos of homosexuality in the 1950s and 60s, and the pressure he felt to conform to traditional gender roles. He contrasts these experiences with his later successes as a writer and filmmaker, which he credits in part to his identity as a gay man.

Overall, Of Time and the City is an engaging and thought-provoking documentary-drama. The film is a love letter to Liverpool, as seen through the eyes of one of its most famous sons. The director’s narration and the carefully selected footage combine to create a sentimental and illuminating history of the city's past while celebrating its people, culture, and legacy. The film invites the viewer to reflect on personal and cultural identity, nostalgia, and the ways in which our upbringing shapes us.