The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Think: Go slow with a series of unhurried programmes from BBC Four

David Parker May 14, 2015

Inspired by the concept of slow TV, when an event is filmed in real time, BBC Four Goes Slow features a series of three deliberately unrushed programmes celebrating traditional craftsmanship, an uninterrupted two-hour canal boat journey down a historic British waterway and a recording of the birdsong of sunrise, devoid of voiceover or added sound effects.

Another brilliant example of something only BBC Four would do, this surprising selection of programmes is the antithesis to the general direction much of television is going in. Slowing everything right down gives us the time to really observe things as they happen and this series of programmes celebrates the simple pleasures of life in the slow lane.

Sounds right up our street. Want to watch again? Follow the iPlayer links below…  

Handmade is a series of three half-hour films celebrating traditional craftsmanship. In a world of fast-paced, high-tech mass production, Handmade takes a quiet, unhurried look at the making of a series of simple objects. Beautifully filmed and edited at a leisurely pace with no voiceover, each film is an absorbing, often hypnotic portrait of time-honoured skills and techniques, observing in exquisite detail the slow and careful crafting of objects such as a classic steel knife and a wooden chair.

1. Glass

hero-landscape-handmade.jpg

Filmed in real time and without voiceover or music, this is a beautifully-filmed portrait of the making of a simple glass jug by glass designer Michael Ruh.
 

2. Metal

Filmed without voiceover or music, this film is an absorbing portrait of the complex processes behind the crafting of a steel knife by bladesmith Owen Bush.
 

3. Wood

Filmed over five days, this film reveals the complex, time-consuming processes involved in creating a Windsor chair, made by Jim Steele in his Warwickshire workshop.
 


All Aboard! The Canal Trip

All Aboard! The Canal Trip is an uninterrupted two-hour canal boat journey down one of Britain's historic waterways filmed in real time. Inspired by the concept of slow TV, when an event is filmed in real time, the film is a rich and absorbing antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life. Take in the images and sounds of the British countryside, spot wildlife and glimpse life on the tow path, as if you were there. Guidebook facts about the canal and its history are delivered by captions imbedded into the passing landscape.
 

Dawn Chorus: The Sounds of Spring

The birdsong of sunrise in all its uninterrupted glory, free from the voiceover and music of traditional television. With the first glimmers of sunlight, the birds of Britain's woodland, heathland and parkland burst into song. This is an opportunity to sit back and enjoy a portrait of three very different habitats and the natural splendour of their distinctive chorus.
 

InThink Tagssimple pleasures, bbc, documentary, think, slow
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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