Past screening

California Typewriter

Directed by: Doug Nichol
Runtime: 1hr 33min Year: 2016
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Details

Directed by: Doug Nichol
Runtime: 1hr 33min Year: 2016
Country: France, India, Canada, United States

From a sculptor who makes art out of typewriter parts, to fanatic collector Tom Hanks, California Typewriter explores the joy of analogue in an overwhelming digital age.

“There is a wonderful way to spend time: typing. You get to think about it. You get to romantically sit back and ponder what your next words are going to be. And that is a pleasant, tactile action,” comments avid collector, Tom Hanks. In an age where we consume, upgrade and have machines that aren’t built to last, Tom Hanks loves typewriters. And he’s not alone.

We meet a man who creates sculptures out of typewriters, another who has spent the most part of his life repairing typewriters, and a typewriter orchestra. Built out of weaponry from the American Civil War, the invention was initially a failure. However, this affectionate documentary explores how the typewriter became a crucial part of history, and continues to spark our imagination.