Elegy for the Elswick Envoy (2007)

Artist Nancy Willis's quest to find just the right home for her much loved but exhausted car - the remarkable Elswick Envoy. A witty and moving double portrait of a unique vehicle and its owner.

Director:

Nancy Willis

Writer:

Nancy Willis (commentary)

Stars:

Tony Heaton, Martha Leskard, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Tony Heaton	...	Himself
Martha Leskard	...	Herself
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu	...	Himself
Nancy Willis	...	Herself

Storyline

Disabled artist Nancy Willis is in search of a home for her much loved, but aging car - the Elswick Envoy. This unique small car was designed to be driven directly from a wheelchair. Launched in the early 1980's only two hundred were ever made. Nancy's distinctive red version is one of the last survivors of this rare breed. As she prepares to take possession of an ultramodern adapted Renault, Nancy sets out on a mission to ensure that her Elswick will not vanish without trace from motoring history. In this personal road movie, Nancy can see her own struggle for continuing mobility mirrored in the increasingly unreliable performance of her battered old car. This witty and moving film is a fitting tribute and final farewell to a distinguished old friend.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2007 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maverick Television, Resource Base

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1

User Reviews

a delightful and imaginative real life drama about a disabled driver and her beloved car

The little car called an Elswick Envoy is, in the words of the director "A cross between a Mini and a lump of Red Leicester cheese". This remarkable short film charts the story of Nancy Willis, an artist, explorer and wheelchair user on her mission to find a befitting resting place for her beloved, but ancient, car. The Elswick Envoy is a rare model of one of the first vehicles designed in the UK to be driven from a powered wheelchair.

Nancy Willis could not have known the outcome of her efforts as she began filming the gripping drama as it unfolded. The story takes you to an extraordinary motor museum, a couple who want the vehicle for spare parts, an artist who wanted to turn it into an installation/chicken coup, until it reaches its final conclusion. Get your hankies out.

The film also serves to document a little-known piece of British history as it outlines the development of specially adapted vehicles for disabled drivers from the motorised bath chair to a Renault with remote controlled ramp.

It is Nancy's deeply personal narrative, beautifully crafted pieces of animation, humour, pathos and the sheer imaginativeness of this film which makes it such a delight to watch - which I have done, several times. Micheline Mason