post

Too Many Ghosts
NEWS, OTHER STUFF, SYNOPSIS

A morality tale on the folly of war

17321987331_87cda6d6c7_b

“The sounds of this war have become a part of me, body and soul …I should be thankful, but I’m not” – Joe Franklin.

16651926794_12da2c850b_z

Too Many Ghosts has been screened in 19 countries, spanning Canada and South Korea, Australia and Russia and all across Europe, East and West, including 13 showings at the London cinema of Britain’s Imperial War Museum.

In Kharkov in 2011 it received a standing ovation from the audience in the Ukraine’s second-largest city after being screened at The International Film Festival “Steps” (poster on the left).

The festival, which is under the auspices of the United Nations in Ukraine and a member of the European Documentary Network in Denmark, screens films that depict the civic engagement of citizens in tackling and solving social, humanitarian and environmental problems on a voluntary basis.

Directed, filmed and edited by Ian Woodward.

Petros Koukoulomatis, David Sutherland, Mandy Carr, Eva Woodward.

Screenplay and Verse by Ian Woodward.

Music by Sir Edward Elgar.

Narrated by Beth Mayoh.

17136197499_0eef9e56be_z

Too Many Ghosts is a fictionalised commentary on the folly of war set in Europe between the last five days of the Second World War and a few days after the end of hostilities.

Joe Franklin, a young corporal in Britain’s illustrious 350-year-old East Yorkshire Regiment, is reminiscing about the horrors of war and the mental scars it inflicts on the physically and mentally injured.

He is filled with remorse at the memories of those very close to his heart that have perished. Many are missing but some have been returned home to be buried in towns and villages up and down the British Isles.

Joe’s story is told against the musical backdrop of England’s great national composer, Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934), Master of the King’s Musick, with poetry by some of the country’s great war poets, including Rupert Brooke and Laurence Binyon, and specially-composed verse by the film-maker.

16699899994_3dedfb5e18_k

Music

Sir Edward Elgar
Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 in D major
(“Land of Hope and Glory”)

Sir Edward Elgar
Dream Children

Sir Edward Elgar
“Nimrod” from Enigma Variations

Sir Edward Elgar
Symphony No 1 (1st Movement)

Joe Franklin
PETROS KOUKOULOMATIS

The voice of Albert Franklin
IRVING THOMAS

Parents of Joe and Albert
DAVID SUTHERLAND
MANDY CARR
(courtesy of Abbots Langley Gilbert & Sullivan Society)

Child of Hope
EVA WOODWARD

Narration and Verse Reading
BETH MAYOH

Location Manager
JOHN CARPOZI

Costumes and Design
DAISY OGILVY

Wardrobe
ZENKA WOODWARD

Carpenter
HARRY MALTIN

Technical Associate
PHILIP WOODWARD

Hair and Make-up
HEIDI SCHEUER

DVD Cover Design
STEFANIE WOODWARD

Thanks

The Imperial War Museum
The Royal British Legion
The Haslemere Wardrobe
June Parker (Vice Chairman, Abbots Langley Gilbert & Sullivan Society)
The War Poetry Website – www.warpoetry.co.uk
The Diocese of St Albans and St Paul’s Church, Langleybury, Hertfordshire

Filmed on location in Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, and in Sir Edward Elgar’s beloved Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

An ENCORE film © Ian Woodward 2011
Running time: 15 min. Format: 16:9 PAL (16:9 NTSC also available)

 

28587424710_c700ce9e50_o

 

28767208512_d78408333b_o

best-short-film
28840560126_6bbe0dcf24_o
28767129682_57b99779e3_o
28256804653_93bf9373a0_o
28840517706_44858a3032_o
28767083722_e1ffd2f265_o
28256737833_530aea7740_o
28871784975_4f5cf43f83_o
28510872694_6454a0603d_o
29132640145_0bbabc1ca0_o

FILM-ENTRIES RUNNING ORDER AT

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2013

IN ONTARIO, CANADA, WHERE

TOO MANY GHOSTS

AND

SILLY ROBIN

WERE ENTERED BY ENCORE FILMS UK

above:

BEST WAR SHORT FILM

award for  

TOO MANY GHOSTS

A Morality Tale on the Folly of War

presented to Encore Films UK at

THE SOUTH CINEMATOGRAPHIC ACADEMY OF FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

in Chile