Monday 09:00-09:45
Rpt: Mon 21:30-22:00
Setting the week's cultural agenda.
1 May 2006
This week Andrew Marr is joined by Alain de Botton, Abbot Christopher Jamison, Anna Neistat and Debbie Isitt.
ALAIN DE BOTTON intends to do for architecture what Jamie Oliver has done for food. His latest book is about aesthetic philosophy - how buildings can make us happy. He says that in Britain we don't demand nice enough places to live, and if we did, we'd be happier. The Architecture of Happiness is published by Hamish Hamilton.
ABBOT CHRISTOPHER JAMISON is the Benedictine Abbot of Worth Abbey whose mission is to bring the lessons of monastic living to a wider audience. His new book draws on the teachings of St Benedict, which were written 1500 years ago, and which can be used as a guide for those looking for ways to find spiritual space within their busy lives. Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Chechnya has, since 1999 and its first war against Russia, been home to one of the world's grimmest conflicts. Both sides are accused of human rights violations, with thousands of Chechens disappearing without trace, its capital Grozny in ruins and Russians in Moscow and other cities dying in attacks by Chechen terrorists. Moscow argues that the war in Chechnya is over, and that a peace process is now unfolding. But the instability appears to be spreading further throughout the north Caucasus. ANNA NEISTAT talks about her latest investigative mission to the republic on behalf of Human Rights Watch. Anna will be delivering a lecture at Chatham House on Chechnya and North Caucasus on Wednesday 3 May.
It's spring, and the start of the wedding season - and what better way to get in the mood than with a British wedding comedy film. Writer and director DEBBIE ISITT has conceived Confetti - an improvised documentary-style comedy about 3 couples taking part in a wedding competition. She discusses making the film documentary-style and getting the actors to make the script up as they go along. Confetti is released on Friday 5 May.
Next week: David Hare
Dawn Ades
DJ Taylor
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