a
b
c

Hanging On

Available online: 23/03/2025
Play trailer
Director Alfie Barker
United Kingdom 2021
11 minutes
English
A striking visual metaphor captures the uncertainty and strength of community as a neighborhood unites in the face of eviction.

Synopsis

In Oulton, Leeds, an old coal-mining community of over 60 houses still stands. Originally built as temporary council housing but later sold to private investors, these homes now face the threat of demolition, putting a large number of residents at risk of displacement—some of whom have lived there their entire lives. Through a combination of audio interviews and a striking visual metaphor, we uncover the stories of a tightly-knit community, their cherished memories, and the stress and uncertainty surrounding their ongoing campaign to save their homes.

You need to sign in to watch this film

Sign in Sign up

In Oulton, Leeds, an old coal-mining community of over 60 houses still stands. Originally built as temporary council housing but later sold to private investors, these homes now face the threat of demolition, putting a large number of residents at risk of displacement—some of whom have lived there their entire lives. Through a combination of audio interviews and a striking visual metaphor, we uncover the stories of a tightly-knit community, their cherished memories, and the stress and uncertainty surrounding their ongoing campaign to save their homes.

Full credits

Section
Short Docs
Director
Alfie Barker
Production countries
United Kingdom
Production year
2021
Duration
11 minutes
Producer
Hollie Bryan
Website
https://cosmosquarefilms.co.uk

You might also like:

To be Present but Sometimes Forgotten
Online
To be Present but Sometimes Forgotten New Dutch

Merel Severs, 2024, NL, 12 min

In this cinematic adaptation of Severs’ stage performance Coerced and Freely Given ('24), three performers train together to endure the world’s violences and reclaim space for vulnerability and anger through care and solidarity. Known for her unique blend of choreography and martial arts, Severs delves into the body’s resilience, vulnerability, and ability to resist societal and political pressures.

I Wan'na Be Like You
Online
I Wan'na Be Like You New Dutch

Broersen & Lukacs, 2024, BE, FR, NL, 13 min

Lukács and Broersen examine the Western colonial perception of the jungle as an untouched wilderness or 'terra nullius.' The film reimagines botanical gardens in Brussels, Paris, London, and Amsterdam—places where the wilderness was once appropriated and transported to Europe. The iconic song I Wan'na Be Like You from Disney’s Jungle Book (1967) is reinterpreted by collaborators, most notably the Afro-Surinamese music group Black Harmony, offering a proud reimagining of their community’s history and future in the diaspora.

The Steppers visit South Africa
Online
The Steppers visit South Africa Online Specials and Short Docs

Hugh Durnford-Dionne, 2024, ZA, 10 min

The Montreal Steppers visit South Africa for a cultural and artistic exchange to learn from elders and youth, brilliant artists and knowledge keepers. Connecting to the roots of Gumboots, Pantsula and Stepping changed their lives and the work that they do. It fuelled a deeper commitment to sharing the history and honouring the art forms that paved the way for resistance, power and legacy. With this knowledge, they enter into spaces with a heightened appreciation and understanding that this dance form is indeed their “ancestral inheritance.”