If you have kids aged between 16-25 then you may have heard about award winning director Justine Gordon Smith's film making project in which our young folk will get to participate in making their own film from beginning to end focussing on the anniversary march to commemorate the 1834 great demonstration in support of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Justine is enrolling young people for the project which will be based at Half Moon Tenant's Co-op community centre for the duration.
For a real taste of Justine's innovative community-based film making style you'd be well advised to get to the screening of 'Park'. Set in Elthorne Park the film is a unique insight into urban Britain and the people in the city. It's an amazing view into our parks and the people who use them, live in them and in some cases die in them. Justine is interviewed about her approach to film making and about Park on the film website Shooting People.
The film is a revealing urban portrait of a local park and the rich assortment of characters who spend time there or just pass through. This documentary, made over five years, gains the trust of its subjects and offers a unique insight into one of Londons lesser known green areas. In an age when entertainment and documentary are often difficult to distinguish it is refreshing to find a non-fiction project that approaches its subject with intelligence and integrity. The film looks at the little things that can help us all to make our own judgments and see the bigger picture.
Park will be shown on April 27th at Stratford Picture House as part of the East End Film Festival 2009. We'll give more details as soon as we have them…
