London's Last Wilderness: A Journey into the Post-Apocalyptic Thames
In the realm of experimental documentary filmmaking, Pablo Behrens' London's Last Wilderness is a unique and intriguing venture. This film takes us on a journey along the Thames estuary, an area that has long captivated the imaginations of artists and writers like Iain Sinclair, JG Ballard, and Rachel Lichtenstein. Their shared fascination with this stretch of water between London and the sea is understandable; it's a place where the wildness of nature and the remnants of a bygone industrial age coexist in a surreal, almost post-apocalyptic landscape.
What makes Behrens' film particularly compelling is its use of an unseen explorer's perspective. Through the camera's eye, we witness the estuary as if through a pair of goggles or a helmet, with location coordinates flashing across the screen. This adds a layer of intrigue and a sense of discovery, as if we are part of an expedition into the unknown. The scratchy voices from a command center further enhance the sense of mystery and adventure.
The film's visuals are a feast for the eyes. We see birds wading in oozing mudflats, burning sunrises, and luminous mists that dissolve everything around them. There are also cheerful redbrick housing estates, knackered fairground rides, and sunburnt teenagers splashing in the water, catching God knows what as they gulp down the river water. It's a vivid and diverse landscape, one that feels both familiar and otherworldly.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is its discovery of the Maunsell sea forts off the coast of Whitstable in Kent. These rusted steel towers, built during World War II, resemble something from Mad Max. They stand as eerie reminders of a prolonged war, a detail that adds a layer of historical context to the film's post-apocalyptic aesthetic.
However, the film's on-screen captions, which provide the explorer's observations, feel clumsy and flat-footed. While they add context, they sometimes break the spell and feel out of place. It's as if the film is trying to strike a balance between the surreal and the informative, but sometimes falls short.
In my opinion, London's Last Wilderness is a fascinating and engaging film, but it could have been more thought through. It's a journey into a post-apocalyptic world, but it's also a journey into the mind of an explorer, one that is both captivating and a little indulgent. It raises questions about the relationship between nature and industry, and the potential future of our world. It's a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, leaving you with a sense of wonder and a deeper understanding of the Thames estuary.
Personally, I think this film is a must-watch for anyone interested in experimental documentary or the post-apocalyptic genre. It's a unique and intriguing journey that will leave you with a new perspective on this stretch of water and the world beyond.
