Between 1967 and 1970 Italian auteur Giovanni 'Tinto' Brass directed four feature films in London, each starring a woman as the main character.
Exploring the political, cultural and sexual ideas of their time, often in a deliberate pop-art style, they contain much priceless footage of now forgotten neighbourhoods, galleries, clubs and events as well as an abundance of contemporary music.
Free Your Mind! describes the films, their stars, how they were made, and their influence on the social history, pop culture, cinema, music and TV of the time.
"Matthews doesn't hold back when it comes to detail, and this makes for a fascinating read as we uncover a whole new perspective on the well-worn history of underground London." - Shindig!
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But Simon Matthews weaves a web around the story of Tinto Brass, adding dozens of links with people and organisations from the underground, the avant-garde, the rock scene, and the movie world. (Just like Julian Palacios did in Dark Globe, but around Syd Barrett and the early Floyd.)
In that aspect, it is much more than a Tinto Brass biography. Just like the title predicts, it gives an overview of 'swinging London and the 60s pop culture scene', through the cinematographic lens of Giovanni Brass.
People who have read some of my reviews know that I am a sucker for footnotes (Men On The Border is mentioned in one of those) and that I can't resist a bulky index. Free Your Mind! has a 23-page index, making it a joy to jump from page to page.
Free Your Mind! is the kind of book I like to read.
" - The Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit
