Council estates on film - the Barbican's new season

If I could count the number of times I've been told that the Barbican isn't council housing I'd be rich. Well, perhaps not rich, but I'd have earned more from this blog than the £26.43 that's come my way so far via Google Ads.

This isn't a post about the Barbican, it's just introducing its autumn film series Urban Wandering - Film and the London Landscape.

Here are my top picks (in date order)

18 Sep - It Always Rains on Sunday, screen talk with Iain Sinclair

Nothing to do with estates, but all to do with post-war Bethnal Green. Irresistible. (And we're all hoping that Sinclair leaves his saxophone playing friend at home and just does what he does best).

20 Sep - Estate, screen talk with Will Self, Lynsey Hanley and Andrea Luka Zimmerman

If you just go for one, go see this. The film explores five decades of social housing and includes and interview with Erno Goldfinger shot at the Balfron Tower. There's also Alison & Peter Smithson talking about Robin Hood Gardens (which hasn't been demolished, although that's what the Barbican's website claims).

20 Sep - A Clockwork Orange

A lot of the iconic imagery was shot at the Southmere Estate, Thamesmead.
 

This is not a Pedway in the City of London - it's just an elevated walkway

27 Sep - The Pedway: Elevating London

A documentary all about how the City of London tried to make elevated walkways work.

 

28 Sep - Vertigo as part of Hitchcock's East End. St Margarets Church.

Just because it's awesome.

And if you do want to know more about the Barbican, its history and its amazing architecture, book yourself on a tour before you head to an event.