Doc/Nights: Handsworth Songs + Intro 15

Originally created for the Channel 4 series Britain: The Lie of the Land, Handsworth Songs is a richly-layered documentary representing the hopes and dreams of post-war black British people in the light of the civil disturbances of the 1980s.

It engages with Britain’s colonial past, public and private memories, and the struggles of race and class.

This poetic film-essay uses an evocative soundtrack influenced by reggae, punk and the post-industrial noise movement, alongside a mix of archival material, newsreel footage and artistic imagery to depict the frustrations that erupted as a result of the repressive policing of black communities.

This screening will feature a special introduction from Mark Hutchinson (Journey to Justice) exploring the history of colonialism and its lasting impact on Black Britons.