Sidi Family Christmas 1974

This family film by eccentric and gifted filmmaker Alan Sidi could well have been made as a demonstration for other families on how to have a relaxed and enjoyable Christmas.

Not surprisingly, this is not your usual amateur movie of a family at home at Christmas from Leeds’ most inventive amateur filmmaker, Alan Sidi. Here Alan both introduces and postscripts his film in his characteristic relaxed manner, with a liqueur and sherry in hand. This is a family that has got Christmas off pat, with all the usual trappings, making it a highly civilised affair.

Alan Sidi was the inspirational force behind many of the films of Leeds Mercury Movie Makers, and also made well over a hundred films of his own. Always looking to come up with new ideas, he also invented a cine-sync machine to synchronise audio with 16 mm film, and devised his own “Sidi-scope” film format. Alan had been filming his family at Christmas, off and on, since 1950. One room of his idiosyncratic house, Val D’or – soon to be purchased by the Wales and Leeds United footballer Terry Yorath – was entirely devoted to film editing. Renowned for his pranks, here Alan shows himself to be an exemplary family man.