Alan Garner

A monthly series of highly personal documentary films in which individuals are given a platform to discuss issues close to their heart.

Children's fantasy serial adapted from Alan Garner's novel. Four children discover that a ruined church is the gateway to the world of Elidor.

Three teenagers discover a mysterious set of owl and flower-patterned dinner plates in the attic and the magical ancient legend of the "Mabinogion" comes to life once again in their Welsh valley.

Three men at three different times in history come to Mow Top hill in search of sanctuary from their troubles. A Roman soldier, a medieval rebel and a 1970s young man. Somehow they seem linked through an energy within the hill and an axe. Is history doomed to repeat itself or can loving another person free them?

An experimental, autobiographical documentary presented by Alan Garner

Alan Garner was the author of The Owl Service, one of the key texts within the recent fad for the English Wyrd. This early 1980’s documentary features Garner talking about his life and influences, and comes loaded with narrated excerpts from his books and eerie musical interludes and recorded screams that are curiously reminiscent of The League Of Gentlemen. Other scenes of Garner wandering around his key sites of inspiration – mainly around Alderley Edge in Cheshire – look like they’re from the early days of pop videos, with shaky hand-held footage and sudden zooms into blacked-out windows and strange rock formations. Somehow it all adds to the sincere intention of introducing Garner’s unusual body of work to the unsuspecting viewer.

Jane spent her childhood in a remote valley in the Peak District above Macclesfield. Ten years later she returns with her fiancé. Her dramatic rediscovery of Lamaload is the subject of this poignant story.

The apparition of a woman - muse or ghost - helps a depressed writer.