Film list

[autumns-work--Film-image]
Autumn’s Work 2013 47'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Autumn’s Work" follows Bill Coperthwaite as he prepares for winter. Wrestling with a large felled tree amidst its vast tangle of branches, Bill slowly and methodically breaks it down
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[back-to-basics--Film-image]
Back to Basics 1994 33'
    Directed by Dominic French .
A group of environmentalists and homeless have purchased some land on which to settle and get back to a simpler way of life. But the nearby residents of the 'best-kept village’ in Somerset,
British-Irish Isles Social Conflict Alternative culture Land Rights
[cae-dai-a-home-from-home--Film-image]
Cae Dai - a Home From Home 1997 30'
    Directed by Will Grove-White .
After the closure of the North Wales psychiatric hospital in the late 1980s, Sparrow Harrison opened his family home to local people suffering from mental illness. This film explores the humour,
British-Irish Isles Health / Health care / Healing Alternative culture
[a-chair-in-six-parts--Film-image]
A Chair: in six parts 2013 42'
    Student Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
A poem about a chair. In 1960, Bill Coperthwaite bought 300 acres of wilderness in Machiasport, Maine. Influenced by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and by the back to the land movement of Scott and
North America Material Culture Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans
[drive-it-crash-it-paint-it--Film-image]
Drive it, Crash it, Paint it 2002 26'
    Directed by James Bolchover .
Kelzo grew up in Hulme and has been writing on walls, wrecked cars and other urban surfaces since 1984. But now that he is a 'graffiti artist' whose work is sold in galleries, is he still in touch with his roots?
British-Irish Isles Personal Narrative Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans
[eat-the-kimono--Film-image]
Eat the Kimono 1989 60'
    Directed by Kim Longinotto Claire Hunt .
A compelling biography of Hanayagi Genshu, a feminist and dancer who spent her lifetime defying the conservative traditions of Japanese society with her radical politics and unconventional
Central Asia and Far East Public Figure Gender Role and Identity Art / Artists / Artisans Dance / Theatre / Performance Alternative culture
[eco-trip--Film-image]
Eco trip 1997 30'
    Directed by Rachel Robertson .
A group of eco-activists travel around Britain attending festivals and other events aimed at raising awareness of ecological issues and of new, alternative ways of living. But sometimes relationships
British-Irish Isles Alternative culture Environment
[in-pursuit-of-happiness--Film-image]
In Pursuit of Happiness 2009 31'
    Directed by Ray Ono .
Tokyo life as rarely seen on mainstream media. This short film takes you to the lives of men who live on the outskirts of the city and of Japanese society.
Central Asia and Far East Alternative culture Urban Squatter Settlements / Homelessness
[the-land-on-which-we-stand--Film-image]
The Land on which We Stand 2007 31'
    Directed by Becky Payne .
This film is a glimpse into the life of the Landmatters Co-operative, a community of 11 adults and 4 children living in benders and yurts in rural Devon as they develop a permaculture project. The 42
British-Irish Isles Rural Alternative culture
[making-it-big-in-berlin--Film-image]
Making it Big in Berlin 2009 24'
    Directed by Claudia Goldberg .
In Berlin, where low rents and space for creative ideas are still available, self-employed workers live the alternative to a nine-to-five-job. A sewing café owner, a freelance journalist and two
Western Europe Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans
[a-new-kind-of-life--Film-image]
A New Kind of Life 1997 28'
    Directed by Emma Farrell .
How is someone’s life affected when faced with cancer? This film is a portrait of three people from Manchester, England, who have chosen to include complementary therapies as part of their daily coping strategies.
British-Irish Isles Health / Health care / Healing Alternative culture
[rockerill-rekindling-the-fire--Film-image]
Rockerill: Rekindling the Fire 2011 53'
    Directed by Yves Mora .
Five years ago, one of the oldest industrial buildings of Charleroi- ‘les Forges de la Providence’- was saved from demolition being brought by two citizens: Thierry Camuy and Mika Hell. Together
Western Europe Alternative culture Art / Artists / Artisans
[a-saint-from-new-york--Film-image]
A Saint from New York 1995 30'
  Directed by Line Hatland .
Dorothy Day, ex-communist, anarchist, single mother and co-founder of the widespread ‘Catholic Worker’ movement — died in New York in 1980. Soon after the Claretian Fathers started a campaign
North America Alternative culture Religion / Belief / Faith
[smell-the-roses--Film-image]
Smell the Roses 2003 28'
  Directed by Julie Milling .
Christiania is a self-governing community in the heart of Copenhagen set up by squatters at the height of 1970s idealism. Faced with extinction or urban redevelopment, residents struggle to redefine a fading ideology.
Scandinavia Alternative culture Urban
[spring-in-dickinsons-reach--Film-image]
Spring in Dickinson’s Reach 2013 83'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Spring in Dickinson’s Reach" provides an introduction to the unique environment that Bill Coperthwaite has crafted in the Maine forest. Beginning in early spring, the film follows
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[standing-places--Film-image]
Standing Places 2007 31'
    Directed by Ana Tovey .
A model of Stonehenge has been built in rural New Zealand, functioning like the original not only in its astronomical alignment but also in its role as a ceremonial site. The film explores what
New Zealand and Polynesia Alternative culture Ritual
[a-summer-task--Film-image]
A Summer Task 2013 47'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"A Summer Task" examines the rhythm and tempo of work in the forest. The film follows Bill Coperthwaite and his cousin, Steve, as they fell and haul trees to build a bridge and begin
North America Alternative culture Everyday Life Rural Art / Artists / Artisans
[suspend-your-beliefs--Film-image]
Suspend your Beliefs 2004 29'
    Directed by Simone Clifford-Jaeger .
Suspension of the living body from hooks has been practiced in various cultural contexts and places in the past, but today forms part of a growing global interest in body modification. This film
British-Irish Isles Alternative culture
[temporary-sanity-the-skerrit-boy-story--Film-image]
Temporary Sanity: The Skerrit Boy Story 2006 32'
  Directed by Dan Bruun .
This film deals with the culture of Jamaican dancehall music as it exists in New York. It follows one young dancehall participant who makes his living performing and promoting dancehall music.
North America Music / Ethnomusicology Alternative culture
[usch-in-the-bush--Film-image]
Usch in the Bush 2001 32'
  Directed by Michaela Schäuble .
In the 1980s Ursula Heimer leaves behind her husband and children in Germany and goes to live in the African bush. We meet her seventeen years later in a tiny village in Togo, where she has been
West Africa Personal Narrative Alternative culture
[winter-days--Film-image]
Winter Days 2013 59'
  Directed by Anna Grimshaw .
"Winter Days" evokes the stillness and quietness of the forest in winter. Life is lived close to the stove. It’s a time for small tasks and chores – making a wedge, sewing a pocket, the
North America Alternative culture Rural Everyday Life Art / Artists / Artisans
[sp2--Film-image]
[S+P2] 2010 30'
    Directed by Yasmin Samir-Shakir .
Following various members of The Forest Collective in the run-up to the 'DIY' arts space's Tenth Birthday celebrations, we observe some of the internal and external struggles faced by this
British-Irish Isles Alternative culture Collective / Community identity