David Wilkinson’s much-anticipated documentary The Marbles opened in UK cinemas on Friday, November 7, with its London premiere at Genesis Cinema in Bethnal Green concluding in a lively Q&A with the filmmaker.
The film examines the long-running controversy over Greece’s request for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles — a debate Wilkinson approaches from a distinctly British perspective.
Joining Wilkinson for the opening-night discussion were lawyer Alexander Herman, Director of the Institute of Art and Law and a leading authority on artifact restitution who appears in the film, and Marcus Markou, a British-born Greek who helped fund the project. The film’s production also drew support from Greek expats around the world, including in the US and Australia.
Friday’s audience at Genesis Cinema included both Greek and British viewers, with some traveling more than 200 km to attend the opening night.
In a wide-ranging Q&A moderated by Greek journalist Paula Tsoni, Wilkinson spoke about the making of the film and the complex issues surrounding the Parthenon Marbles — from the political symbolism of artifact restitution and shifting post-colonial attitudes, to transparency in film funding, the current state of diplomatic dialogue, and ways the public can help bring the issue to Parliament.
The Marbles has so far earned mostly four- and five-star reviews, including two enthusiastic write-ups from The Guardian and The Financial Times
Screenings will continue across the UK over the next four months, including several Q&A events with Wilkinson.
Full screening dates and locations can be found at https://linktr.ee/GuerillaFilms
