Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Four Seasons
The changing rhythm of the seasons are captured in this award-winning short film – which also features skipping, lambs, picnics and bikinis
From the collection of:
Overview
Phil Ellis' award winning film starts with daffodils, primroses and grown-ups, full of the joys of spring, skipping and picnicking while new-born lambs gamble on the Sussex Downs. On a summer beach a bikini-clad woman contrasts nicely with an old man with a newspaper on his head. On Hindhead Common, heather is gathered while wheat ripens in the fields. When autumn comes there's time for one last picnic amid the larches before the inevitable arrival of winter snow.
Philip Ellis was a keen amateur film-maker who lived in Brighton from 1948 to 1962. The films he made were intended for screening at family get-togethers, especially at Christmas.
Related
Watch for free
Wittering 1938 Wittering 1938
Amateur film 1938 18 mins Silent Location: Ottershaw
Join the Giles family and their friends on an idyllic seaside holiday by the Sussex coast - just a few months before the Munich Crisis
Watch for free
At the Seaside and Sailing At the Seaside and Sailing
Amateur film 1930 15 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Thirties seaside holidays feature in this Albany Cine Club film - with families, dogs, pipe smokers and uncomfortable woolen swimwear
Watch for free
Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun
Amateur film 1935 4 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
The arrival of summer means it's time for grown men to dress as ladies and play some raucous cricket - as Eric Norman's holiday camp film shows
Watch for free
Countryman's Diary Countryman's Diary
Amateur film 1950 14 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Enjoy the changing colours of the Sussex countryside and the fruits of the season in this prize-winning lyrical film diary
Watch for free
Once Upon a Farm Once Upon a Farm
Amateur film 1985 15 mins Location: West Sussex
Beryl Armstrong's gently polemical film extolls the value of rare farm breeds, which could one day meet future challenges and demands
Watch for free
Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds Crawley & Horsham Foxhounds
Amateur film 1966 6 mins Silent Location: West Sussex
Watch the Crawley & Horsham Hunt shakin' their livers in this lively film about fox-hunting and point-to-point racing made by Dora Harmer
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.
Watch for free
Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked
Inside Film 2025 49 mins
Director Jon M. Chu discusses his ground-breaking vision of Oz.
Watch for free
Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 66 mins
Yorgos Lanthimos sits down with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong to reveal the secret ingredients that underpin his uniquely weird brand of satire.
Watch for free
Islands - Extended Q&A Islands - Extended Q&A
Inside Film 2025 31 mins
Director Jan Ole Gerster and actor Sam Riley talk about Islands, a thriller with noirish undertones and echoes of Hitchcock and Highsmith.
Watch for free
Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 67 mins
Lynne Ramsay discusses her singular career populated by visually intoxicating, ground-breaking and provocative films.