Estate, a Reverie

Estate, a Reverie is a poetic documentary film essay that tracks the passing of the massive Haggerston Estate in Hackney, London, and the utopian promise of social housing it offered when it was built in the 1930s. After decades of lack of maintenance, the whole area was condemned. The last building, Samuel House, was the home of the filmmaker until it demolished in the fall of 2014.

Filmed over the final seven years, Estate, a Reverie reveals and celebrates the resilience of marginalized people who live their lives at the mercy of governmental and financial decisions. It also shows how new forms of community took form among the residents as the date for the final move approached, offering valuable insights in social processes in cities. Perhaps it is not just a question of where we live, but how? With music composed and performed by Olivia Chaney.

Sponsored by Green Seed Development.