Solidarity
A creative documentary examining the practice of employers blacklisting trade unionists and activists in the UK, specifically looking at the construction industry and links to undercover policing.
- Submitting institution
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Kingston University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 32-83-1732
- Type
- L - Artefact
- Location
- UK
- Open access status
- -
- Month of production
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- Year of production
- 2016
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Solidarity (2019) is a creative documentary directed by filmmaker and researcher Lucy Parker and commissioned by arts organisation City Projects. The film examines the practice of employers blacklisting trade unionists and activists in the UK, specifically looking at the construction industry and links to undercover policing. It focuses on the challenging experience of the legal system, and those working towards changes in legislation and justice. It is the first feature film on the subject to be shown in cinemas. Parker began research for the film in 2013, which had its world premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2019.
Parker conducted a range of research to develop the film, including archival research, interviews, attending parliamentary and High Court hearings, collaborating with law students and academics at Birkbeck, University of London, and site visits. The research was supported by a residency at Rhubaba Gallery and Studios, Edinburgh (2015).
Exploring documentary form, the creative approach taken in constructing the film uses a law school and meeting spaces to capture conversations that investigate the subject of political discrimination and processes of justice. The film combines staged scenes and documentation of real events. Acts of communal learning in the film build on the work of critical practitioners such as Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal, as well as radical practices of community education, including the Federation of Worker Writers and Community Publishers.
The film has been screened in cinemas across the UK, in community settings and in galleries. The subject of blacklisting and undercover policing has been shared with activist, film and art audiences whilst Q&A sessions have been designed to raise discussion on points of workplace victimisation, zero-hour contracts, migrant workers, privacy law and the justice system. Solidarity(2019) won the IDFA Award for Best First Appearance at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November2019.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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