Patrick Keiller and „the problem of London”

Abstract

British architect and filmmaker Patrick Keiller is the author of the crictially acclaimed Robinson Trilogy (London, Robinson in Space, Robinson in Ruins). Keiller’s unique style of filmmaking intentionally depicts places that are nearly or altogether devoid of human presence and activity. They are sites in which events might take place, and the events are seen rather as possible contemporary myths. Keiller’s film essays explore the notions of place, the production of space, the workings of memory and the feeling of nostalgia. His investigation into the idea of “drifting”, understood as free association in space, reveals Keiller’s fascination with the “built environment” presented in an innovate filmic way, combining imagery, sound and editing. The paper concentrates on the first part of his trilogy, where the author addresses the “problem of London”.