David Rose, editor of the Personals column of the London Review of Books

A CINELAN Three Minute Story. David Rose holds one of the most intriguing, touching and amusing positions in journalism: editor of the Personals column of the London Review of Books. Not many jobs offer as much insight into the human heart and mind. Rose conceived the column in 1998, expecting writers to talk about their love of Proust and favourite Yeats. Instead, he found himself reading letters expressing that “I love my women like I love my kebab.” These lonely heart notices are windows on the minds of often eccentric readers and their messages to their spouses, friends, acquaintances – and especially to their mothers. Elegantly shot against a simple black backdrop, Gee presents Rose as he reads and comments on choice selections from his correspondents, interspersing the narration with the letters themselves scrolling across the screen in a way that brings the writers and their missives to life in just a few words – haikus that shoot straight to the heart. As he reads them aloud, it becomes clear that their authors have something to say that must be said. Touching, funny, often ironic, these haikus of the literate set are worth listening to.

Haikus of the Heart

What's This?

What's This?

saved

Haikus of the Heart

Release Year: 2008

Duration: 3 min

Availability: Worldwide

A CINELAN Three Minute Story. David Rose holds one of the most intriguing, touching and amusing positions in journalism: editor of the Personals column of the London Review of Books. Not many jobs offer as much insight into the human heart and mind. Rose conceived the column in 1998, expecting writers to talk about their love of Proust and favourite Yeats. Instead, he found himself reading letters expressing that “I love my women like I love my kebab.” These lonely heart notices are windows on the minds of often eccentric readers and their messages to their spouses, friends, acquaintances – and especially to their mothers. Elegantly shot against a simple black backdrop, Gee presents Rose as he reads and comments on choice selections from his correspondents, interspersing the narration with the letters themselves scrolling across the screen in a way that brings the writers and their missives to life in just a few words – haikus that shoot straight to the heart. As he reads them aloud, it becomes clear that their authors have something to say that must be said. Touching, funny, often ironic, these haikus of the literate set are worth listening to.

Director

Grant Gee

Producer

Sound Recording

Rashad Omar

Music

Rashad Omar

Report a Technical Issue

If you're having any difficulties viewing the film or have any playback-related technical questions, contact us using our general feedback page.

Comments

There are no comments for this entry