like fresh bread

it seems like a hundred years since i first heard about the film 'poor cow.' that's how long i have wanted to see this movie. i knew it was a 'kitchen sink drama', the sort of film that offered an unpretentious view of of working class people, that defined british new wave cinema in the sixites. trust me when i say that i slipped my very own copy of this celebrated film into the player just last night. i sat down to watch it like a devotee before her guru. no dogs allowed.

over the course of a long and highly respected career, director ken loach has climbed to the top of the ladder. 'poor cow' was his debut and i ate it up like a sundae. the simple story, based on the book by nell dunn, is exactly what i love about this genre of films. a young spirited woman has a baby in her arms, an insensitive husband in prison, and a loving sweetheart. for awhile. the whole gorgeously shot film takes us skipping along behind the lead character's jagged path toward her dream: a nice bloke and a two room flat for her and the baby.

carol white plays 'joy.' she is so like my early role models, english actresses julie christie and judy geeson. carol white was like a beautiful bird perched for a long career, but it was not to be.

after many roles and relationships with lots of great actors, she left the business. she said being a star was frightening. 

the painter in me wanted to capture every scene. i just loved it.