Film

Film-making is unique as it has the potential to transport viewers into different worlds providing insight into other people’s realities. The RAI has a long standing interest in ethnographic film and is keen to collaborate with organisations or individuals that use film as a means of engaging new audiences with the discipline.

The South-East Ethnography Project

In 2007, the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Education Department collaborated with Greenwich Community College (GCC) on a film outreach project called ‘The South East Ethnography’. Funded by Mediabox and Aspire, the project enabled twelve students from GCC to take courses in anthropology and film making and apply their knowledge to produce three short documentaries exploring identity and local communities in London.

These 3 remarkable films reflect the diversity and vibrancy of south east London, whilst telling the personal stories of individuals whose work and lives are situated in the area. They are all testament to the hard work, dedication and talent of the GCC students.

THE GOOD OL' DAYS

The well-established butchers, Kennedy’s is famous for its sausages and pies. The establishment is closing down now after 130 years of serving its communities across South-East London. This film looks at how regulars are affected by the closure and how Bill, one store’s manager, prepares to start a new life after 40 years at Kennedy’s.

The Good Ol’ Days demonstrates how traditional butchers form part of a community’s networks and how local shops are facing a decline in trade as a result of increasing competition with large supermarket chains.

A film by: Thomas Colley, Clarke Puncheon, Ashleigh Sheen, Stephanie Wickens and Elhum Shakerifar.

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TALK OF THE TRADE

For more than a decade the Woolwich market has been a source of food, clothing and conversation to Londoners. It has always been an alternative to the supermarket, a place of culture and diversity. The film offers an ethnographic portrayal of the people who make the market what it is, the traders. The changing history of Woolwich is drawn from their words and the products they sell.

A film by: Alfredina Adofo, Yasmin Begum, Ashly Kangere, Edwin Owusu, and Jaime Taylor

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ANGLESEA ROAD: MINI SOMALIA

In a country as culturally diverse as England, Anglesea Road stands out with a unique tradition of its own. Situated in Woolwich, South East London, Anglesea Road it is a small community rich in Somali culture, heritage and tradition. This film explores what the area means to British-Somali residents and why this place is so important to the expression of their cultural identity.

A film by: Ivonne Adewuyi, Bhim Gurung, Oti Ikomi, Jay Nelson and Edward Owles

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THE MAKING OF THE SOUTH-EAST ETHNOGRAPHIES

The following film shows how the South-East ethnographies were developed and what the students learned from directing and producing their own films.

For further information about the South-East Ethnography project please contact Nafisa Fera, the RAI's Education Officer. If you would like to purchase the films as a compilation DVD, or screen the films at an event, please get in touch with Susanne Hammacher, the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The RAI has an extensive collection of ethnographic films that are available for sale or hire.