Film / Documentaries
New documentary explores ‘invisible walls’ between postcodes
A new documentary explores how postcode wars in Bristol have created “invisible walls” between different parts of the city.
Created by filmmaker and journalist Neil Maggs, Postcodes follows youth campaigner Serena Wiebe’s journey to Hartcliffe and Knowle West, two parts of the city often described as rivals.
In the film Wiebe interacts with young people, youth workers and the police from both the postcodes, unravelling myths, tensions and perspectives.
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“I grew up hearing about these dividing lines, but losing a friend changed everything,” said Wiebe, who lost her best friend to knife crime. “This film is about understanding why we are scared of our own neighbours and how we can start to break those barriers down. It’s about more than just Bristol, it’s about a generation across the UK fighting for a future where a postcode isn’t a life sentence.”
In the film’s trailer, young people from both areas express negative feelings towards each other, with one of them also saying: “I wouldn’t walk around Hartcliffe and I wouldn’t want to be friends with Hartcliffers”.
The film attempts to explore this mindset of rivalry in the two areas that saw the tragic death of two teenagers in the recent past.
Maggs said: “As a journalist, I’ve seen how these geographical divides can limit a young person’s world before they’ve even left school.
“With Postcodes, we wanted to move past the headlines and let the community speak. Serena’s bravery in stepping into unfamiliar territory and asking the hard questions provides a bridge between these divided estates.”
The film has been funded and supported by Hartcliffe & Withywood Community Partnership, Knowle West Heath Park, and Knowle West Alliance, as they were keen to give young people in their sometimes divided communities a voice.
Following a few community screenings, Postcodes will be screened at Watershed on March 2 and March 24.
Tickets for the screening at Watershed can be booked here: www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13808/postcodes-qa
Main photo: Neil Maggs / Postcodes
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