When the world is locked down, what will the world be like? The Rome recorded by drones is a once-in-a-million-year emptiness. There is no need to avoid the crowd and go to the Pantheon in the morning just to take a picture of the grand scene under the orange morning light. At this moment, the entire city is a solemn pantheon.
On the contrary, the small animals went to the city without traffic to have fun. Some of them are hungry without tourists, some are strutting out to see why there is no one, and some are walking in groups.
German digital artist Timo Helgert used a computer to recreate the world under lockdown - returning our cities to the earth. In his world, the concrete floors and vehicles are full of flowers, butterflies flutter, and even Notre Dame is unscathed. Our high-rise buildings or iron towers are borrowed to fill the city, and they must be returned to the earth in the end. There is no need to be greedy.
Timo Helgert said he hopes his creations can bring hope and inspiration to people in lockdown. He also created the imaginary Harrods for Harrods. For the first time in history, the 172-year-old department store is no longer crowded, Bling Bling, but glows rosy, covered in clouds and flowers and trees. Door after door opened, like a never-ending mystery in London.
It is precisely because of the global lockdown, the film industry has also completely shut down. Doug Liman, director of "Mrs. & Mrs. Smith", was suddenly inspired by a Zoom meeting in July: Why not make a "Closed City"? The plot is just like what is happening in real life - people are madly grabbing toilet paper, forced to work from home, and the couple who have been unpleasant to each other for a long time finally erupted?
"Closed City" tells the story of a couple who had planned to divorce during the lockdown of London. The wife was going to enter the mysterious vault of Harrods to get a diamond worth 3 million pounds because of her work. The two shared the spoils, and they were very happy, and they didn't forget to donate some money to the NHS (National Health System)...
Note that she said "most", not "one of the most...". Harrods can afford this "world's best" - Harrods officially opened in 1834. Originally a modest grocery and tea shop in East London, Mr. Charles Henry Harrod employed only two assistants and a delivery boy. It was not until 1849 that he expanded his business, from the dilapidated East London to the West London Knightsbridge where the old aristocrats lived, and built the later Universe Department Store step by step.
In nearly two centuries of business, it has never been open to any filming. The director of "Closed City" said: "When we had this idea in July last year, we contacted Harrods. We didn't even have a script at the time, and I told them if you didn't agree, we simply wouldn't shoot. All There is only one Harrods in the world, and if we want to shoot, we only shoot Harrods."
At the beginning, Harrods only opened the Food Hall and the retail area to the crew, but the director proposed to use the Harrods basement. Strictly speaking, it is not known whether it is a "basement", because no one knows whether it is underground or not, it is Harrods himself The "Tibetan Pavilion". In other words, the thieves will shout "Open Sesame" without knowing where the door is hidden.
According to a 1921 document: "The jewels and gemstones stored in the Harrods vaults retain their absolute lustre, and due to the uniformity of temperature and atmospheric drying, even sterling silver will not change color." Such a mysterious place, The price of storing things is naturally free. Take the current price as an example - storage application fee: 75 pounds; key deposit: 200 pounds; small items less than 10.8cm x 12cm x 44.5cm one year storage fee: £465; large storage under 2.54mx 1.37mx 1.85m one year storage fee: £16,225.
Harrods was of course against putting a group of people in a place like this. The director also said, how can we let photographers go in and take a look, take some pictures or something? Then we can follow suit later. He opened his mouth to the cameraman, and then Harrods simply let it go: you shoot, just don't reveal the specific location of this place in the movie.
In addition to that, Harrods contributed extras to the film (who were the usual employees of the store), and during the lockdown, they got permission to film Harrods' vistas from the road outside.
To this day, Harrods remains closed at the request of the government. Miss Harrods window, miss Harrods Egypt Hall, miss Harrods bookstore... Whether it's Shoe Heaven or Superbrands or Beauty Hall, miss them all! When Harrods opens, which hall would you most like to be in?
View more about Locked Down reviews
