SHE GATHERS NO MOSS

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An eccentric soul recounts her life as free-living, free-loving socialite

Ellen Pearson, London based director, has developed a unique style of collage documentary, with a meticulous attention to rhythm and story-telling. The films she creates are usually credited with her characters as collaborators. By using their photography, their input is therefore very important to the visual and emotive side of the story - as it was in case of her first film for Channel 4 Random Acts, Lawless, which told a story of a young sex worker from Sydney.

Ellen implemented the same approach when she interviewed a very interesting lady who used to be her mum's aupair, Valentine.

She Gathers No Moss is a short documentary about the surreal life of Valentine, an eccentric and enchanting 70 year old French woman. Through imagery from Valentine's past, the film documents a stream of wild tales. Arriving in London in 1962, Valentine fully embraced the social revolution of self expression that was erupting around her. Now, more than 50 years on, she lives reclusively in a basic flat in Camden Town. She takes great pleasure in the small things like using the internet at her local library and re-watching old Wimbledon matches.

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