“Taking Woodstock” and the Spirit of Love 40 years later…

Contrary to hopes and expectations, the summer of 2009 passed without the anniversary resurgence of the legendary Woodstock Festival of August ’69. After a few not-so-successful attempts (apart from maybe ‘Mudstock’ in ‘94) and the disastrous 30-year celebration still fresh -which ended in riots, arrests and injury- there’s been a lot of apprehension to any further endeavour to revive the ‘3 days of peace & music’. Lack of motivation from sponsors and producers concerned with the major dilemmas marking our time (free entry, old or new bands, before or after the crisis etc.) lead to withering of the reviving tradition.

However, on the penultimate day of the London Film Festival I did get a chance to ‘relive the love’.

“Taking Woodstock” (by Ang Lee) depicts the true story of how a young man suddenly got the festival back on track after it had been turned down by locals in the original site and effectively changes the lives of his family, neighbours and practically the entire American generation who experienced it. It is a beautiful film; funny, touching and inspirational with gorgeous scenes of the ‘flower children’ and the lifestyle they followed. Although the actual concert is never shown (the closest you get is a mud slope some 500m out), the music and art are always present, underlying the culture and mentality of the ‘60s in the US.

And 40 years later you can still relate to this hope and journey to self-awareness through philanthropy (sometimes drugs too) and of course through the love of music and all it represents.

So is all the love and altruism and inspiration and vision drowned by cynicism and the consuming nature of the modern ‘achiever’?

Our world is fucked up, this is certain and the future is scary and uncertain but there are some things that can still fight against the dystopias we might be heading towards.

I did not come out of the theatre thinking ‘what a shame it’s all changed’, I actually was loving everything too –though am usually a bit pessimistic.

Music and art are still very much alive, especially in London – well I know about the music at least. They keep the world turning, evolving in a beautiful and productive way and they keep this city vibrant. Through our student radio alone you’ll get to live it first hand, meet and listen to talented artists on their way up or even ones you already admire.

So go out and seek these treasures you’re offered!

When going through London you’ll come across the drunks, the homeless, the trash spread everywhere but, like me today, you might also get to go to a film festival, stumble into a free art gallery, walk past the love-preaching artwork on the pavement of Trafalgar Square and witness over 100 people giving money –not walking away- from a street performer. Yes, sometimes life is nice, and music and art keep it going.

Photo taken in front of National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

Btw, I should mention the annual ‘Woodstock Festival’ in Poland which is a musical and social success, bringing forward up-and-coming bands; if you’re ever around there in the summer, do check it out!