Penda's Fen (Alan Clarke, 1974, UK)

Alan Clarke is certainly one of the most talented and underrated British directors of his generation. Best known for his gritty, realistic dramas, including Scum and Made in Britain, Penda’s Fen marks a stark departure from this style. Steeped in romanticism and symbology, the film was shot for the British television series “Play for Today.” The author of Penda’s Fen is David Rudkin, who has had an extensive career on the stage, screen, and radio. Released in 1974, the film feels oddly relevant - its exploration of polarization around identity could have been written in 2026.

Penda’s Fen is remarkable for its thematic ambition, particularly given that it was made for television. Equal parts Kes and The Wicker Man, Penda’s combines mythology, music, and even some folk horror in its analysis of British identity. It is easy to see how this film could have been an influence on filmmaker Derek Jarman in its themes of homosexual longing, as well as the dark folk scene of the 1980s with bands like Coil. Edward Elgar figures prominently in the film as an influence from the past on our young protagonist, as well as the titular “Penda,” one of the last great Anglo-Saxon kings.

Penda’s Fen is quite cerebral and symbolic, and may test the patience of some viewers. That said, one cannot deny the ambition of Clarke and Rudkin in the project. It is not surprising that a new generation of viewers is discovering the film given the resonance of its political messaging. While Rudkin’s film concludes on the side of pure liberation, with the script’s young protagonist ultimately changing his conservative worldview upon learning about the hypocrisy around him.  Stephen Banks captures the spirit of the impressionable young man who is debating the people around him as well as the forces inside of himself that he does not yet know nor understand.

7/10