From the Archive #1: Robot Three and The Grand Match

Available to watch on the National Library of Scotland as part of the Moving Image Archive Collection.

Robot Three:

                          No Masters!

Debuting at the 1952 Scottish Amateur Film Festival, Enrico Coccozza’s sci-fi fantasy film ROBOT THREE wins the Victor Saville Trophy for ‘most outstanding film’.

Following the trope of the feminized robot, created purely for her Master's pleasure, who's forced to conspire with another domesticated robot, in order to kill her creator and escape to freedom (think Ex Machina).

The pastel-coloured clothes against the botanical upholstery appear so vibrant on this 16m film stock, the Grecian costuming and vague pagan props give the short an atmosphere completely disjointed from any time or place.

The Grand Match:

                   Curler’s of the world unite!

At 15 minutes long, this documentary film offers a wee look into the history of Curling as a national sport. Exhibiting the many merry faces of an incredibly limber, mostly older crowd, THE GRAND MATCH displays friendly unification between the North and South of Scotland on the beautiful frozen Lake of Menteith. An amiable game called on by the scotch whiskey passed around in small flasks, warming the tummies of competitors and spectators alike. What a lovely spectacle.

Caught on camera was the last ever Grand Match -- as conditions in Scotland have not allowed it since. Consequently, this video becomes a document of the ongoing climate crisis.

As they say in the film; “Only the Scots can make an art of throwing stones”.

   
Highlight: too many gorgeous knitted berets on show to count on two hands.