Film

Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy

Date
Fri 10 March 2023
Time 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Price £6

Director: Elizabeth Carroll (USA, Mexico, 2019)
Certification: Recommended 12 A | 1 h  15 min | Documentary | Language: with English subtitles

Master chef, teacher, writer, and activist Diana Kennedy was recognised one of the most celebrated culinary legends of Mexican cuisine but also fought unapologetically for change in the environment to produce and sustain fresh food for future generations.

Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy is a feature-length documentary offering a candid look into the world of British chef and cookbook author Diana Kennedy who passed away in July 2022 at the end of 99, widely regarded as the world’s authority on Mexican cuisine. Standing barely five feet tall with a still-thick English accent, Diana was a formidable critic of any individual who doesn’t agree with her subjective views of Mexican culinary traditions, or, God forbid, doesn’t recycle.

Diana was a force of nature, living entirely in harmony with it. She designed and built her ecologically sustainable property outside Zitácuaro, Michoacán in 1974, where she cooked, recycled rainwater, used solar power, and grew her own vegetables, coffee, and corn. She was a staunch environmentalist, maintaining a collection of plastic bags she’s reused for a decade. 

The author of eight cookbooks; Diana was decorated with an Order of the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican government in 1982; received a Member of the Order of the British Empire for strengthening cultural ties between Mexico and the UK in 2002; and is a 2014 inductee into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame. 

★★★★ “Marvellously watchable” – The Guardian

★★★★ “The word ‘character’ hardly begins to give her justice” – The Daily Mail

We will celebrate the contributions of this inspirational woman in the context of the International Women’s Day with a introduction and a traditional Mexican snack before the film! 

Read the original film notes by Eliza Perry on her blog Cinephilic Spirit

+ Short Film GRANNY

Director: Francis Castelli. Written and Produced by Michelle Crane (United Kingdom, 2022)
Certification: Recommended U |12 min | Drama, short film | Language: English 

This award winning short film celebrates the life of Lizzy Ashcroft, start of the Dick Kerr Ladies football team in the early 20th century.
Preston, 1972. This true story explores the secrets we keep within and why. A young boy reluctantly visits his Granny for the afternoon unknowingly helping her to pack away a significant part of her life. This short film tells us about Lizzy Ashcroft as an older woman living alone, in contrast to her ‘golden days’ travelling, playing sports and experiencing a freedom in the 1920’s and 30’s unlike her generation had ever known before.

The film explores why despite being a footballer for fifteen years, she finally had to retire in 1935 and subsequently packed away this important, happy, part of her life. It leaves us questioning how we don’t always truly know those who are closest to us.

This screening is possible thanks to the writer and producer of the film, Michelle Crane. Michelle, who is Blackpool-based, is also an actor and gives life to  Anne Bolton in the short film. She was inspired by an article penned by Lizzy’s grandson about the footballer’s life and decided to tell her story. 

With support of the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK.

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Covid-19 Information
– Seating arrangements are subject to change due to changes in social distancing regulations.
–  Please support the return of our events by taking a lateral flow test before attending.
– Do not attend the event if you are displaying Covid-19 symptoms, have tested positive, or have been a close contact of someone who is infected and are required to self isolate.

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