Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

This documentary looks at the contribution of Haiti. On January 1st of 1804, Haiti became the second nation in the new world to establish an independent government. These achievements marked not only a burst of independence, but also emancipation from slavery. It started not as a result of a revolt, but out of the depths of human squalor. In 1787 the French revolution rocked France. The framers of the French constitution drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, and listed the inalienable rights of the individual. The right to liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression, as well as the rights to freedom of speech, were guaranteed. Unlike the US declaration of independence, the French revolution was intended to apply universally. It not only set fourth the fundamental rights of the French citizen, but also acknowledged these rights to all men, without exception. When the Haitian slaves started demanding their rights promised by the French revolution, the French colonizers quickly reminded them that the Declaration was intended for the Europeans only. This prompted the Africans to revolt, resulting in the first black republic.

Synopsis

As seen through the eyes of a local youth from an East London Estate, this challenging documentary-animation uniquely deals with the problem of anti-social behaviour in Britain’s inner cities to successfully tackle social misrepresentation of the community, young and old. Commissioned by Tower Hamlets Crime Reduction Services and The Local Police Team this film used a unique process of workshops and interaction with the local community to resolve long standing issues of misrepresentation and disengagement of young people on the estate. The animation was written by two emerging youth leaders on the estate who realised that the ongoing problems needed to be resolved if they where ever going to stand a chance of living in peacefully alongside the police and older residents.

Synopsis

The film's five episodes explore the legacies of Finland's post-war period, digging deep into the unspoken stories, misunderstandings and mysteries that a child of those years experienced.

Synopsis

Four years ago Iham and Jihad lost their third child on the operating table. Now their nine-month-old son Jamal's life is threatened by congenital heart disease, for which no affordable treatment is available. With the aid of the charity The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), a British surgeon's arrival in Palestine offers hope for the future. But first the Samara family must travel from their home in the West Bank and through Israeli checkpoints to Makassed hospital in Jerusalem, before the real journey can even begin.

An emotional journey that highlights the plight of the struggling Palestinian health care system under occupation, from the perspective of doctor, patient and humanitarian organisation.

Synopsis

Ordinary Magic consists of a series of interviews with six Londoners in their 70s and 80s, each of them offering intimate observations on their lifelong quest for meaning and knowledge.

Synopsis

A Documentary on Women’s experience of Punk.

The present media interest in the 70’s is a pre punk; US dominated vision of the era. The UK experience was of a decadent hippie movement and the apolitical skinhead movement being swept aside by punk. This programme reassesses from a punk women’s perspective, women’s role in this dynamic movement that irreversibly changed the face of society, politics art and music.

Director Zillah Minx – Lead singer with punk band rubella ballet since 1976.

Synopsis

At the beginning of the last century, Romanian peasants discovered the solemn music of the military bands when they went into the cities. They were so impressed by these that they wanted to have brass bands in their villages as well. With the arrival of the communists, these popular country marching brass bands were invited to participate at official events. The regime confiscated their land, built immense industrial complexes and many of the farm-workers became factory workers. The brass bands then became a symbol of the people’s well-being and the brotherhood between the farm and factory workers. With the fall of the Communist regime, many factories closed down.

Synopsis

Shot on HD, over four weeks, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this powerful and harrowing documentary focuses on the plight of the children, who we find to be commonly involved in witchcraft, cannibalism and as child soldiers.

Synopsis

Many legends surround the Arbroath Smokie, which alongside the town's Abbey ensure that Arbroath remains a draw for thousands of tourists every year. The History of the Smokie is a beautifully shot and scored insight into one of Scotland most ancient delicacies.
 

Synopsis

The separatist war in Sri Lanka is responsible for over 60,000 deaths. In that same period of time almost twice as many people committed suicide in Sri Lanka.

This documentary describes the high rate of suicides in rural Sri Lanka and shows that often people harm themselves to communicate their feelings. It looks into the social cultural and religious reasons for this act of self harm.

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For the past 80 years, the infamous Borley Rectory has been known as the most haunted house in England. But was it?

Synopsis

Look at life around West End theatre, London.