MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER

Essentially a Martin Scorsese hosted film course about the oeuvre of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, Made in England is film buff heaven, but offers precious few new insights.

Martin Scorsese has long been a fervent advocate of the films of British writing-directing-producing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, so there is not a better person out there to narrate this documentary about their life, work and legacy. The question is whether this movie will excite anyone beyond ardent cinephiles.

Made in England chronologically works it way through the filmography of its subject, using pristine clips from movies like 49th Parallel, A Matter of Life and Death and The Red Shoes. Sprinkling in fascinating archive footage and adding anecdotes from Scorsese about his personal connection to the Archers’ films, the film feels like an extension of the director’s seminal nineties series A Personal Journey Through American Movies.

Therein also lies Made in England’s problem unfortunately. The documentary succeeds as a Cliff Notes guide to Powell and Pressburger, but doesn’t delve much deeper. An abundance of time is spent on dissecting the style and themes of their movies but you are made almost none the wiser about how their partnership worked.

Another sore point is that the majority of the film is focused on Michael Powell, probably because Scorsese had a personal bond with him. Pressburger is a peripheral figure at best, which further undermines the film’s goal of highlighting the central partnership.

Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high going into Made in England, but overall there is no denying that the picture doesn’t stand out from your regular documentary about moviemakers. With all the talent involved, that’s a real shame.

release: 2024

director: David Hinton

starring: Martin Scorsese, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger