London

In LONDON, the ficticious narrator and his former beloved Robinson make three 'pilgrimages' through London, with the purpose to fathom the character and significance of this city. Their visit to historic locations and buildings and to the modern parts of town does not give them a positive idea. According to filmmaker Patrick Keiler, who had been an architect until fifteen years ago, there is no other city in the world like London as far as training people in loneliness and avoiding contact goes. He thinks this is induced by the English way of life, the large distances, the climate and the huge crowds, that swamp every personality. LONDON is about "a deteriorating city and the cultural and political roots of that decay". The conclusion at the end of the film is a surprising one: "London's true identity lies in its absence. As a city, London no longer exists. This is the only reason why it is truly modern. London is the first vanished metropolis."