BFI Blu-ray release announced for Saint Etienne: I’ve Been Trying to Tell You

Further to our previously announced home entertainment releases for October to December 2021, an additional, final new release of the year will be the film Saint Etienne: I’ve Been Trying to Tell You (2021) directed by British photographer and filmmaker Alasdair McLellan, released on Blu-ray on 6 December. Saint Etienne: I’ve Been Trying to Tell You is a companion film to indie pop band Saint Etienne’s new album of the same name, released on 10 September on Heavenly Records.

Featuring the music of the album, the film is an evocative look back on the optimism of the 1997-2001 era. It asks – was the optimism of that era a lost golden age, or was it a period of naivety, delusion and folly? McLellan evokes the era through the fog of memory with a cast including AJ Adamu, Iris Law, Nora Attal, Fern Bain Smith and Kit Butler. The resulting film, shot in locations around the UK, from Grangemouth to Portmeirion to Southampton, as well as London, is beautiful, hypnotic and enveloping.

The Blu-ray presentation will contain a variety of special features including the following, with more to be announced:

• Her Winter Coat (2021): New Saint Etienne music video directed by Alasdair McLellan
• Hello Holly (2021): New Saint Etienne music video directed by Alasdair McLellan
• Escalade (2021): New Saint Etienne music video directed by Alasdair McLellan
• Bob Stanley and Alasdair McLellan in conversation (2021)
• Trailers
• First pressing only: Illustrated booklet with new writing on the film by Jason Wood and unreleased images from Alasdair McLellan