A psycho-geographical excursion from Andrew Kötting and Iain Sinclair, which follows in the footsteps of a four-day walk by English poet John Clare.
Declared insane in 1841, Clare absconded from him Essex asylum to undertake a 90-mile walk to his home near Northampton, under the delusion that he was to be reunited with his first wife. His epic pilgrimage is repeated by actor Toby Jones, author Iain Sinclair and a giant straw bear (played by director Kötting), undertaken precisely 150 years after his death.
Their quest is narrated by Toby’s father Freddie, the cult actor best known for his roles in several David Lynch films. During the journey they’re joined by accomplices including the mysterious Macgillivray and esteemed graphic novelist Alan Moore, while examining the history of Clare’s reputation. With luminous black and white cinematography and a charged spirit of exploration and eccentricity, By Our Selves is a stimulating and memorable odyssey.
Followed by a Q&A with artist and filmmaker Andrew Kötting.