Garter Lane Arts Centre, Tuesday 29th September 2020 at 7.30pm
Garter Lane Arts Centre in partnership with Waterford Film For All are proud to present ‘White Riot’, a thrilling documentary about passion, protest and punk politics directed by Rubika Shah.
Britain, late-1970s. Punk is exploding. The country is deeply divided over immigration. The National Front, a far-right and fascist political party, is gaining strength as politicians like Enoch Powell push a xenophobic agenda. Outraged by a racist speech from Eric Clapton, music photographer Red Saunders writes a letter to the music press, calling for rock to be a force against racism. NME, Melody Maker, and Sounds all publish the letter.
Flooded with responses, Red discovers many share his views. Teaming up with like-minded creatives Roger Huddle, Kate Webb, Syd Shelton and Australian graphic designer Ruth Gregory, the team bands together to create Rock Against Racism (RAR) and a fanzine, Temporary Hoarding. Speaking directly to the youth, Temporary Hoarding reports stories and issues that the mainstream British media ignores, like immigration, the Catholic side of the Northern Ireland conflict, and the police’s controversial “suspected persons” (sus) powers. They give a voice to the voiceless. The National Front begins to strike back, committing acts of violence against RAR supporters and petrol-bombing their HQ. Despite this, RAR spreads virally across the UK and into Europe, becoming a grassroots youth movement. The Clash, Steel Pulse, Tom Robinson and other top bands of the day jump on board.
White Riot is a moment in time when music changed the world. When a generation challenged the status quo. It’s Woodstock meets the March on Washington, punk-style.
Directed by RUBIKA SHAH / Produced by ED GIBBS
2019 / 80 min / UK / English / Documentary
★★★★★ “lifts the lid on the genesis of the RAR movement and the result is one of this year’s most engaging rock docs” Linda Marric, NME
★★★★ “inspiring story of how punk and reggae gave racism the finger in ’70s Britain” Time Out
★★★★ “smart, spirited” Simran Hans, The Observer
★★★★ “excellent brief documentary about a heroic grassroots political movement” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Winner Best Documentary – BFI London Film Festival 2019
Special Mention Crystal Bear – Berlin International Film Festival 2020
Sound & Vision Official Selection – CPH:DOX 2020
Special Mention DocFilmMusic Competition – Krakow Film Festival 2020
Winner IndieMusic Award – IndieLisboa International Film Festival 2020
Web/Facebook details: https://www.garterlane.ie/events/wffa-2020-white-riot/
Ticket: €9/conc. €7.50
Booking phone number (Box Office): 051 855038
E-ticket address: https://garterlane.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173604753
Contact details: 051 877 153
Garter Lane Arts Centre, O’Connell Street, Waterford