Tacita Dean’s portrait of the poet and translator Michael Hamburger was filmed, at his home in rural Suffolk, in the last year of his life. Set against muted autumn colours, and with Hamburger performing an evocative, anecdotal inventory of the harvest from his apple orchard, the piece is a bittersweet reminder of time’s passing that deftly captures, and quietly honours, an exemplary 20th century literary figure. Following a screening of the film at Whitechael Art Gallery, Dean looked back at its making, and its subject, in the company of artist and writer, Jeremy Millar. To mark the occasion, and to celebrate a key work that remains one of the highlights of our commissioning activities over the years, Film and Video Umbrella produced a retrospective publication dedicated to Michael Hamburger, designed by Herman Lelie and featuring a new text by Brian Dillon.

This event formed part of FVU's anniversary programme 25 Frames.