This film is a documentary of how the Lea Valley of London was back in 2005, shortly after it was announced that the 2012 Olympics would be held there.
"What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is a pleasant surprise. It is similar to Saint Etienne's previous film project "Finisterre", in the way that it shows random shots of the urban landscape of London. Yet, "What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is much better than "Finisterre" as it has a story to hold the random scenery shots together. By having a young man riding a bicycle around the place, there is a cinematic purpose for showing the scenery.
The scenery of Lea Valley is portrayed to be sorrowful and derelict. Crumbling buildings, abandoned cars and seaweed-lined shopping trolleys in the river are not pretty sights. However, as the narrator tells us, this very place was the birth place of important products such as plastic and petrol. The way it integrates the Lea Valley residents' views on urban regeneration is nice, and they even manage to throw in a joke or two! "What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is an interesting documentary about the little known part of London. It would be interesting to see the contrast between the 2005 Lea Valley and the 2012 Lea Valley.
"What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is a pleasant surprise. It is similar to Saint Etienne's previous film project "Finisterre", in the way that it shows random shots of the urban landscape of London. Yet, "What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is much better than "Finisterre" as it has a story to hold the random scenery shots together. By having a young man riding a bicycle around the place, there is a cinematic purpose for showing the scenery.
The scenery of Lea Valley is portrayed to be sorrowful and derelict. Crumbling buildings, abandoned cars and seaweed-lined shopping trolleys in the river are not pretty sights. However, as the narrator tells us, this very place was the birth place of important products such as plastic and petrol. The way it integrates the Lea Valley residents' views on urban regeneration is nice, and they even manage to throw in a joke or two! "What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" is an interesting documentary about the little known part of London. It would be interesting to see the contrast between the 2005 Lea Valley and the 2012 Lea Valley.
