Reality show?

DIFF: Cardiff as you've never seen it before. Sunny.

In all seriousness, though, as a former Cardiff resident who retains a strong affection for the city, I'm somewhat ambivalent about this film. On the one hand, it's technically and aesthetically impressive. On the other, it simply doesn't live up to creators Block's aims and claims.

The film may show (or showcase, perhaps) some of the city centre's most prominent landmarks, but that hardly equates to reflecting its character. On the contrary, the way it's shot and the manipulation of colours render even the familiar somewhat unrecognisable, a picture postcard of somewhere else entirely. The glassy surface of Roath Park lake, the scurrying figures - the city is made to look like a plasticky toy town. Block might suggest that the film captures "day-to-day life", but it's all gloss and surface, none of the grime and grit that makes up at least part of the reality.

As a corrective, here's a fine local news story that the Welsh Tourist Board would no doubt be less keen to promote. You've got to love the Cardiff sense of humour as evidenced by the stricken seagull's nickname...

(Thanks to Steve and Nannon for the links.)