A classic period documentary depicting a fight by local residents, small businesses and squatters in central London to stop their neighbourhood being destroyed by property speculators.

Shown twice on BBC 2 TV, the film helped resolve the conflict; most of the Tolmers neighbourhood was eventually saved, new houses were built and the office development was much reduced in size and impact. It also helped stimulate the more humane approaches to urban development that took root in the late twentieth century.

The film remains relevant because property speculation still threatens communities in many cities.

Tolmers; beginning or end? (DVD)

30 minutes
Mostly black and white with one short colour sequence

Written by Nick Wates.
Directed by Philip Clayton-Thompson
© 1975

First distributed on DVD, 2005, by:

Nick Wates Associates Ltd, UK
sales@nickwates.co.uk www.nickwates.co.uk

and

Blackstone Edge Films, USA
pizzitho@attbi.com www.blackstoneedge.com

REVIEWS

“...a telling, angry 'World in Action' - type ...programme (which) did credit to the concerned and imaginative involvement with common life which is the best vestige of the now super-annuated Youth Culture.”
Clive James, Sunday Observer, 25 May 1975