Join us for the ultimate Sunday hang-out: a slow-drifting, sun-bleached escape into fading Americana and hippie existentialism, with a UK premiere of the restoration of legendary documentary, Tarpon. This will be preceded by two episodes of the cult TV show, Fishing with John. Both screenings will be introduced by actor and filmmaker Tim Plester and Ryan Bellett, programmer of Video Bazaar.
Tarpon
For decades, the unreleased documentary Tarpon remained somewhat of a myth. Some were lucky to get a bootlegged copy, but for most, the film was urban legend. With appearances by authors Richard Brautigan, Thomas McGuane, and Jim Harrison, the film was born from a 1972 visit to the Florida Keys by French filmmaker, Christian Odasso. Enraptured by the aesthetics and ethics of catch-and-release tarpon fishing, Odasso paired with his brother-in-law, Guy de la Valdene, to co-direct this film about fishing, fishermen, authors, and nature lovers. The film was shot in the cinéma verité style on Kodak 16mm Ektachrome, Jimmy Buffet composed the original music and Jim Harrison narrated his own text. The film reveals some of the only extant video footage of Richard Brautigan, the cult 60s poet and novelist, and also follows several important fishing guides - Gil Drake, Steve Huff, and Woody Sexton - pioneers and legends of a bygone era of Florida fishing.
Fishing with John - Episodes 5 & 6
What happens when you drop John Lurie and Dennis Hopper in a tropical lagoon and hand them fishing rods? Nothing much, and everything. These two surreal, meandering episodes from Lurie's cult '90s show are the perfect dreamlike companion to Tarpon. Lurie and Hopper search for the mythical and elusive giant squid in Thailand, which also is apparently hunting them and hypnotises John and Dennis with its 'volleyball' sized eye. Narrated with absurd gravitas, filled with long silences and existential tangents, it’s fishing as performance art, as therapy, as existential riddle.
Come for the fish. Stay for the vibes. Nurse your hangover, dodge your inbox, and sink into the long, warm tide of cinematic splendour.
16:00 - Intro by Video Bazaar
16:10 - Fishing with John Episodes 5&6
17:00 - Intermission
17:10 - Intro by Tim Plester
17:20 - Tarpon