Speakers' Corner: You Have The Right To Remain Vocal
Synopsis
Since 1872, people have gathered at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park to exercise their rights to free speech in all its forms. The filmmaker weaves interviews with park speakers, hecklers, local politicians, historians, linguists and sociologists involved in this modern phenomenon to create a powerful critique of the true nature of democracy in our society.
The film examines in detail a place where socialists, Islamic fundamentalists, labor politicians, historians, utopians, Zionists, white supremacists and Christian evangelicals all congregate weekly in a single small location. All are freely expressing and debating their views, there is no violence, and thousands of people show up to participate, every Sunday. This is the essence of Speakers Corner, a small area of Hyde Park, London, which was protected by a British Act of Parliament in 1872, to allow people complete freedom of speech in a public place. This is the only such bastion of free speech in the world and stands as a powerful metaphor for global democracy and our future.
Details
- Year
- 2009
- Type of film
- Features
- Running time
- 59 mins 15 secs
- Format
- DVCAM
- Director
-
Gavin White
- Producer
- Gavin White
- Editor
- Alexandra Carroll, Efrat Tal, Jeremy Levine, Zack Wilson
- Director of Photography
- Ben Cole, Chris Paul, David Marsh, Duncan Walsh, Liz Cole, Mel Spalton
- Production Designer
- Simon Beresford
- Sound
- Sarah Gibble
- Composer
- MOBY
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Gavin White
726 Duboce AveSan Francisco CA
USA
T +001 646 515 1000
gavin@gavinwhite.com
Page updates
This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.
See also
You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Director: Hannah Berryman
Year: 2024
A landmark feature documentary about astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle.<br /> Eileen’s incredible journey starts with her smalltown beginnings, sees her smash through many glass ceilings, and culminates in four dramatic space shuttle missions, the last being possibly the most dangerous and most important of them all.<br /> At its heart the film is the moving human drama of one family, where a mother’s extraordinary career takes us straight to the big philosophical question of what is the level of acceptable risk in human endeavour? <br /> This film celebrates Commander Collins’ trailblazing NASA career which opened the way for women to become spacecraft pilots and commanders, and proved a perfect riposte to a previous generation of male astronauts who thought there was no place for women to lead the way in space. <br /> Official Selection DOC NYC 2024 - World premiere<br /> Official Selection CPH:DOX 2025 - European premiere

Director: Chris Leslie
Year: 2025
In the divided town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a once renowned National Monument and Cemetery honouring young WWII partisan fighters is being destroyed by neo-fascist forces.<br /> <br /> While most of the town dismiss it as a relic of communism and an enemy monument, a small group of determined relatives embark on a poignant quest to preserve their loved ones’ memories amid the ruins. <br /> Official Selection Sarajevo Film Festival 2025

Director: Terry Loane
Year: 2025
In a never-before-seen way, we are invited to see up close and intimately the changes a transgender person may experience during a medical transition. Having carved out a successful career as ‘Lots’ Holloway (his previous name and artist’s alias), will Dylan Holloway be accepted by his fans who fell in love with his music in the same way. From the highs of gender euphoria to the challenging lows of self-doubt and vulnerability - will all of Dylan’s dreams come true in his mission to be his authentic self or will he have to give up the one thing that’s always brought him solace, his voice.<br /> Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2025 - World premiere