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The Battle for Barking

Directed by Laura Fairrie

  • The Sheffield Doc/Fest Youth Jury Award Winner 2010

Synopsis

The Battle for Barking is an observational, feature length documentary that chronicles the 2010 election campaigns of Labour and the BNP as they fight for political control of Barking, East London.

About the director

Laura Fairrie

Laura Farrie is a Producer and Director whose background is as a TV news and current affairs journalist and producer. "The Battle for Barking" is her first feature length documentary. Formerly, Laura worked as a Producer at Channel 4 News and then as a freelance Producer/Director. Laura has worked in the UK, Northern Ireland, China and America making documentaries and special reports for BBC Newsnight, BBC 2, Channel 4 News and Channel 4.

More Information

Filmed, directed and produced by Laura Fairrie, The Battle for Barking records a historic moment in British political history through the microcosm of one constituency. As it charts the rise and fall of the BNP, it also gives an extraordinary insight into the workings of the “BNP family”, and into the working class disillusionment with Labour that fuelled their campaign. The film is an honest, moving and humorous portrait of the people of Barking – and shows why, even as a troubled and divided community, they still chose to say “no” to the BNP

Filmed over the course of a year, the film follows two very different political opponents as they battle towards the 2010 General Election. Long‐standing Labour MP Margaret Hodge is a stalwart of the New Labour establishment and, as the daughter of a German Jewish refugee, a strong advocate of community cohesion. Running against her is Nick Griffin, the BNP leader and self‐styled “voice of the ordinary people”, a controversial figure who nonetheless wields considerable support among the area’s constituents.

Following the candidates and their respective teams right up until election night, and with extraordinary access to both sides, the film is a fascinating portrait behind the scenes of both campaigns. It reveals their struggles to win‐over the community, itself driven to breaking point by the combined pressures of increasing migration into the borough, chronic housing shortages, a lack of public resources and a sense amongst many in the white working class community that their identity is under threat.

Laura Fairrie is available for Q+A's after screenings. Please contact bookings@goodscreenings.org for further information

Choose a version

  • The Battle for Barking: Battle For Barking - PAL

    Description
    Battle for Barking available for release following the Sheffield DocFest 2010. Initially UK only.

    If you are interested in another country screening please email bookings@goodscreenings.org
    Running time
    87 mins
    Rating
    Audio languages
    English
    Subtitle languages
    N/A