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British Film Institute London, UK - April 2007

Fabulous

Fabulous.

Itís the only way to describe our treatment during the British Film Instituteís 21st London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. From the individual chauffeur driven Renaults sent to pick me and each of the leads (just like Cannes!) and scenically ferry us to the South Bank; To the champagne reception before, and after, for our own VIP guestlists ; To the heaving 450 seat state of the art NFT1 auditorium; To the well attended, sit down, spotlight question and answer session at the end. Short of having Gerard Butler and Daniel Craig in leather thongs as my escorts, I could not have asked for a better night.

The second non-centrepiece screening on Monday evening was no slouching matter either. Though a more intimate affair, the festival treated us to much of the same as Friday, crowned with a fancy dinner afterwards. Despite the Rag Tag posse lowering the tone somewhat by ordering several main courses and deserts, each (we donít see FREE everyday) they just pushed more bottles of wine in our direction and insisted we come to all their other parties.

But even if Pippa, Sarah, Michael, Billy, Topher and Karen (to name just a few of our festival goddesses) hadnít pulled out all the stops for the events it would still have been really special. For one thing ñ the film is very London, so if our locals donít get it, no one ever will. In fact, although the audience were predominantly white ñ they even got a lot of the Nigerian in jokes. I tried not to let that freak me out too much. Delightful as their loud appreciation of Rag Tag was ñ I was especially tripped by the fact that people whose own work Iíve been salivating over, not only sat through the whole thing but also gave me their details afterwards - Cathy Tyson (Neil Jordan/Antonia Bird anyone?), Maurice Jamal (Ski Trip and Dirty Laundry, just like that), Patrick Ian Polk (Noahís Arc ñ squee like the demented fangirl I am!),

Most of all, because the film is finally complete and Iíve fixed everything I can fix, I was hyperaware of every reaction around me. And judging by what I got, I can safely leave our flawed little bit of life alone to do its thing. Most of our press (see links) comes to a similar conclusion: conscious as I am of all the things that are just wrong wrong wrong, there is something there that speaks to people. I can live with that.

Guests were literally buzzing afterwards, and as much as I put it down to the over abundance of champagne and good will ñ quite a few things seem to be popping up right now as a result. But itís the movie business so Iím not holding my breath, and Iíll continue to update you if any of them come true.

In the mean time though ñ do peruse some of the links below. The first one answers the question What Adaora Did Next? ñ Iím directing a play in Soho on 27th April, starring the Royal Shakespeare Companyís Patrice Naiambana. Tiata Fahodzi rocks so a ticket for any of the readings that week will feed your soul. Itís exceptionally good value for money, and guaranteed to sell out quickly, so please donít say I didnít tell you on time.

And finally, though my camera broke in LA, the delightful Eileen Bagge stepped in and saved the day. Hope you liked the snaps.

Adaora x

Tiata Delights:
http://www.sohotheatre.com/pl1253.html

Guardian Article
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2044573,00.html

Guardian Review
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2044572,00.html

BBC Radio 3 interview
http://www.michaelfuchs.org/schtuff/ragtag.mp3

Variety Review
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117930945.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

Official (but aging) website
www.ragtagmovie.com