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Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Top three

This is really turning into a day of lists. As the Cardiff film festival is on at the moment Wales' top politicians have been invited to list their favourite film. Accordingly, Labour First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, Welsh Tory Leader, Nick Bourne, Welsh Liberal Democrats Leader, Mike German and Presiding Officer, Dafydd Elis-Thomas will be special guests at 8.30pm tonight at Cineworld to explain their choices.

Of the four films I have to confess that I have only seen one all the way through. I have only ever caught the end of Nick Bourne's choice of Casablanca on television and really must find time to sit down and watch the whole thing. I meant to catch 'The Thin Red Line' when it was in the cinema but didn't get the chance in the end. Nevertheless it is the worthy choice of Dafydd Elis-Thomas. I can heartily recommend Rhodri Morgan's choice of 'Rabbit Proof Fence' but I have never seen 'The Third Man', picked by Mike German. For the record my top film is 'Cabaret' but then I was never asked.

Following on from these revelations, Mick Bates and Lorraine Barrett have published their book of AM's top tunes. There are some interesting choices in there including the First Minister opting for 'I tort I saw a puddy tat cweeping up on me' by Mel Blanc and Nick Bourne putting Carly Simon's 'You're so vain' as his number one. However, if I tell you anymore then you will not want to contact BBC Wales to part with your money and as all the proceeds go to children in need that would be unkind.

The BBC though have an interesting round-up, featuring their political pop honours:

The Non-Partisan Award: Conservative Glyn Davies, who picks Yma o Hyd by Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan - even if he does spoil it slightly by adding: "He's a good singer and should concentrate on what he's good at!"

The Partisan It's My Party and I'll Make a Political Point if I Want to Award, Pt One: Plaid Cymru's Dai Lloyd and Janet Davies, who each choose three Dafydd Iwan songs. Runners-up: Plaid's Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Owen John Thomas (one Dafydd Iwan song each)

The Partisan It's My Party etc... Award, Pt Two: Labour's Ann Jones (Things Can Only Get Better - "reminder of the 1997 general election" and The Internationale - "reminds me of why we should all be socialists"). Runner-up: Labour's John Griffiths (The Internationale - "song of international socialism".

The Punk's Not Dead Award: Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, who was once thrown out of the assembly chamber for calling the Queen "Mrs Windsor," picks God Save the Queen, by the Sex Pistols.

The Refreshing Honesty Award: Conservative Mark Isherwood, whose selection includes "A Welsh folk song - I always sing it when I'm drunk which is why I can't remember the title!"

Comments:
Should be some intersting TV footage from the launch, including an excrutiating few minutes with Mick and Lorraine trying to get the 4 Leaders to sing along to 'I tort I saw a puddy cat' - Rhodri and Mike to their credit had the enthusiasm but forgot the words!

Perhaps they should market the video.
 
Perhaps you are the one that needs to see the psycho-analyst. The attraction for me is the political context in which the film is set. The scenes involving the rise of nazism are some of the most disturbing in cinema.
 
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