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Sky Arts Documentary: "Discovering Hergé"

Rocky
Member
#1 · Posted: 21 Aug 2012 14:00
I searched the forums but can't find any reference to this programme on Sky Arts tonight, Discovering Hergé.
Is it new?
jock123
Moderator
#2 · Posted: 21 Aug 2012 15:21
Rocky:
Is it new?
It is; I'd heard it was in the offing, and was hoping to get details of it a week or so back, but nothing came of it, so I wasn't aware that it was airing so soon.
I've a friend who reviews TV programmes, and he had mixed thoughts about it having seen an advance copy, but I've not seen it myself, and don't have Sky Arts, so I look forward to hearing what others have to say about it.
jock123
Moderator
#3 · Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:07
Just a brief update on this, as I've finally seen the programme. I was pleasantly surprised, I have to say. Apart from one or two errors I spotted here and there, it was a nice, general over-view of Hergé's career, aimed at the non-fan.

It used the fairly standard approach of voice-over narration while sequences of images played, inter-cut with talking-heads interviews by a variety of self-confessed fans from the world of media (I know that this can be a turn-off, but the people they have chosen are actually quite well informed, and usually have something interesting to say, so it works well).

Where it perhaps lets itself down is in using a few sequences of an actor to represent Hergé; it's not that they dramatized any events, they just have him sitting at desks or holding a pen while hunched over a drawing, adding little or nothing to the proceedings. Worst of all, it's quite clear that the chap playing Hergé looks nothing like him, being heavier-set and dark, rather than thin and fair.
I almost wondered if he'd been cast to "play" E.P. Jacobs, and had had to fill in as Hergé at the last moment.

If you have an opportunity I'd say it's worth watching, and certainly would be a good start for a non-fan, if you wanted to give them a "pocket-guide to Hergé{.

When I have a moment I'll try and write something more detailed about it.
Harry Hayfield
Member
#4 · Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:19
A documentary entitled Discovering Hergé is to be broadcast on Monday evening at 20:00 BST on the Sky Arts 1 HD channel broadcast in the UK on the Sky Digital Satellite Platform (therefore I cannot tell if the programme will be available outside the United Kingdom). The programme synopsis says:

A look at the life of Tintin creator Georges Remi, whose tales of reporter Tintin and his canine sidekick Snowy have stood the test of time, despite controversy over his early work

Moderator Note: Thanks for the heads-up, Harry, but just a gentle reminder to all to do a forum search before starting a new thread, to check if the topic is already there. Your post has been moved to this existing thread.

The Tidy Tintinologst Team
marsbar
Moderator
#5 · Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:48
For Tintin fans on the east coast of Australia, Discovering Hergé is screening this evening (Sun 30 Dec 2012) at 20:35 AEST on SBS Two.
rodney
Member
#6 · Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:28
UPDATE:
jock123:
it was a nice, general over-view of Hergé's career, aimed at the non-fan.
After having just watched the documentary now, when you mention the above, what do you mean exactly?

Granted, there were few things in the documentary I had not heard of before - the many print bio's cover Hergé's life extensively.
I found it light, not too serious and quite entertaining.

I actually enjoyed the way it presented Hergé's beginnings and a quick overview of the stories combined with old media clips.

Wouldn't this too be aimed at anyone with an appreciation for Tintin and as a bonus an easy viewing for someone not familiar with the works?

Of course most of this you touch on in your last post and sorry if I'm maybe missing the point of your comment, just didn't understand it at all?

I'm a fan and really enjoyed the doco :)

--
[Moderator action: combined consecutive posts.]
appletree
Member
#7 · Posted: 2 Jan 2013 17:16
According to "This Week's TV Listings" at the Sky Arts site, it shall be aired again on Sat 5th Jan at 7pm on Sky Arts 1, and replayed on the 6th at 7am and on the 7th at 5am.
jock123
Moderator
#8 · Posted: 2 Jan 2013 18:36
rodney:
what do you mean exactly?
I'm not certain what the confusion is, I'm afraid; I just meant that the primary target audience is a general one.

You don't have to have any prior knowledge of the subject to enjoy the programme, as it has been made with the non-specialist in mind.

That's not to say that a member of this forum wouldn't or couldn't enjoy it (I know I did), but that it succeeds in bringing the non-fan up to speed as it goes along.

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