Edith Walks
Kotting, Andrew (2016) Edith Walks. [Film, Performance]
Edith Walks is a 60 minute 66 second feature film inspired by a walk from Waltham Abbey in Essex via Battle Abbey to St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex. The film documents a pilgrimage in memory of Edith Swan Neck.
Bits of King Harold's body were brought to Waltham for burial near the High Altar after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and his hand fast wife Edith Swan Neck is seen cradling him in a remarkable sculpture at Grosvenor Gardens on the sea front in St Leonards. The film re-connects the lovers after 950 years of separation.
The 108 mile journey, as the crow flies, allows the audience to reflect upon all things Edith. A conversation in Northampton between Alan Moore, Iain Sinclair and Edith Swan Neck is also a key element to the unfolding 'story'.
With images shot using digital super 8 iphones and sound recorded using a specially constructed music box with a boom microphone, the film unfolds chronologically but in a completely unpredictable way. The numerous encounters and impromptu performances en route are proof, as if needed, that the angels of happenstance were looking down on us, with Edith as their hallucination.
A book work and CD of the journey were also produced which include thoughts, recollections, snapshots and sounds from the journey.
Archive: Screen Archive South East, in particular for their 1066 film: Mrs Neal, Mr Waterman & Mr Ron Acott
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3914-2095
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