Watch Wholly Communion

Wholly Communion is a documentary film from 1966 that captures the spirit of the American poets who invaded London in June of that year. It features some of the most renowned writers of the Beat generation, including Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Michael Horovitz. The film opens with footage of the famous poetry reading event held at the Royal Albert Hall on the 11th of June, 1965. The black and white cinematography of the film adds to the feeling of being present at that historical event. The visual motif of the film is the contrast between the old guard of British poets and the fresh, new voices of the American counterculture. This is reinforced by the choice of locations, with shots of Buckingham Palace and other landmarks interspersed between footage of the Beat poets.

The event at the Royal Albert Hall is almost like a rock concert, with over 7,000 people in attendance, many of whom are young and enthusiastic. The camera focuses on the poets as they read their works and on the audience’s reactions. The Beat poets are shown as unconventional and unafraid, with long hair, sunglasses, and beatnik style clothing. Their words are visceral and experimental, inspiring and shocking the audience in equal measure.

The film then moves on to show scenes outside the Royal Albert Hall. The poets are seen at a party, and again the contrast between the British and American poets is emphasized. The British poets are dressed conservatively, whereas the American poets are vibrant and flamboyant. The scenes from the party also reveal a number of literary discussions and debates that took place. The discussions are intelligent, open and tackle issues such as censorship, politics, and artistic freedom.

Next, the film moves on to feature individual poets, with each of them having their own moment in the spotlight. Allen Ginsberg dances to Indian music in a London park, recites his poetry to a group of children, and visits a bookstore. Gregory Corso is shown playing with his child, reciting his poetry while walking along the Thames and basking in the adulation of young fans.

There is a lot of footage of Lawrence Ferlinghetti in the film, probably due to his contribution as a co-producer. He is shown at his City Lights bookstore, discussing his work and reading some of his poetry. Ferlinghetti comes across as an intellectual but with an approachable demeanour. He is also seen attending book signings and promoting his activities.

The sense of spontaneity and enthusiasm that permeates the rest of the film is recapitulated at Southbank, where the poets perform on the riverbank under the dome of the Royal Festival Hall. This was a free event where the poets performed to a smaller, more intimate audience. The Beat poets perform to folk songs played on the guitar, and this adds an element of conviviality, making the event feel like a party.

In summary, Wholly Communion is an important historical document that captures the zeitgeist of the counterculture and the Beat generation. The film is raw and unpolished, but this suits the subject matter, which is poetry as performance art. The depth of the discussions, the power of the words and the enthusiasm of the audience all contribute to making this a must-watch for anyone who is interested in the Beats, poetry, or the counterculture.