Life Imitates Art in Film Starring Sonny Hall
Riddled with dark humour, Puddle of Muddles is the second chapter in the life of fictional character Johnny Little, directed by Jim Longden.
Riddled with dark humour, Puddle of Muddles is the second chapter in the life of fictional character Johnny Little, directed by Jim Longden.
Filmmaker Jim Longden continues on the path to being one of London's filmmakers to watch with his new film, Puddle of Muddles, starring the poet and actor Sonny Hall. Following his short film debut To Erase a Cloud (2021), Longden's latest project is his longest yet. Lasting just over half an hour, Puddle of Muddles traces the steps of Hall in the role of protagonist John 'Johnny' Little, from his stay in a strange hotel to the streets of London. Continuing the story from Longden's debut, which explored the depths of grief and self-exploration following the death of Little's mother, Puddle of Muddles is set some years later, and in contrast is wonderfully riddled with dark humour.
Having recently recovered from a life-changing surgery to remove a brain tumour, Longden has dived head first back into the creative process. Working with Floraïku, Curly Films, Forever Pictures & This Thing of Ours, his latest film was shot over just three days.
The resulting film is grounded by a narrator, who introduces us to characters including a kooky hotel receptionist with a comical war-time British accent, and cameos from friends including Marley Mackey who plays guitar as Hall recites line of poetry. Little seeks out 'the thrill of freedom' as he leaves the home he shares with his grandmother. 'It is time to go', he writes to her in an opening scene. We follow as Little endeavours to publish a book; here fiction blurs with reality, as Hall is currently working on a book of poetry with Nick Knight, image-maker and director of SHOWstudio, whilst as Longden is soon set to release his debut short stories book Memoirs of a Balloon.
Watch the trailer ahead of the film's release later this year.