'Grace Of My Heart' at The NFT

This evening Chris took me to see 'Grace Of My Heart' at the National Film Theatre (or BFI Southbank as it tries to be called). I've never seen it before but know it's sort of based vaguely on the life of Carole King in the '60s up to the release of 'Tapestry' - or 'Grace of my Heart' as it was called in the film.

I enjoyed it even though it threw in every possible '60s pop cliche imaginable, sex and drugs and rock n roll - well, pop. Lots of different hair styles and clothes, musical styles. It makes a valid attempt at demonstrating the massive social change that happened in one particular decade but it didn't really follow through in how social attitudes changed - the main character was as liberal in 1960 as she was in 1970 so there was no growth or development, only a shortening of the dress and more thigh on show. And, on the men, more hair.

I quite liked one of the themes of the film, to pair songwriters from the '60s with songwriters from the '90s, like Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach. They make such a more interesting sound than if it had been a '60s set.

If you get the chance, go and see it. It's well worth a couple of hours of your life. And, because it's at the NFT there are no pre-film adverts! A bonus in anyone's book.