An 87-year-old documentary maker has spoken of his astonishment at having his films re-discovered, more than 50 years after they were made.
Four of John Krish's films on life in post-war Britain were screened by the British Film Institute last year, entitled A Day In The Life: Four Portraits of Postwar Britain, and won rapturous praise. The acclaim won him the Evening Standard award in February for Best Documentary, beating graffiti artist Banksy. Now the four films have been released on DVD and a BBC documentary will be shown in September as part of a season called The Reel History of Britain.
Mr Krish, who lives in Hammersmith and made his last film in 1982, said the sudden attention had been overwhelming. "It has been unexpected, to say the least. The films have been shown around the country and they have always sold out."
Mr Krish's father was a refugee from eastern Europe, as were both sets of grandparents, and he was brought up in an observant home - "My identity is strongly Jewish." He made his name in public service documentaries, including films for the National Union of Teachers, the NSPCC and British Transport. But he also made feature films and directed many episodes of The Avengers.
