The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Chapeltown: One Year On
A documentary that reveals the gap between the talent and determination of a community, and its lack of control over its own destiny.
From the collection of:
Overview
As if to prove the Biblical proverb that there is nothing new under the sun, the poor housing, lack of jobs, despondency, and cynicism with politics that characterises our own time, is revealed to have been just the same back in the 1980s. One year on from establishing task forces to create jobs in inner cities, the govt. project is viewed as purely cosmetic among the young jobless black men and women of the deprived Chapeltown area of Leeds, shortly after riots there in 1987.
This documentary is a follow up to one made on the task force a year previously. In the meantime there was a riot in Chapeltown on 22 June 1987, sparked by a young black man arrested and beaten by police (not mentioned in the film) – this followed riots there in 1975 and 1981 (and a subsequent one in nearby Harehills in 2001). Cambridge Economic Consultants published an Evaluation of the Inner City Task Forces in 1991. Local resident and sociologist Max Farrar published a long-term study of Chapeltown in 2002, The struggle for ‘Community’ in a British Multi-Ethnic Inner-City Area: Chapeltown remains a deprived area: with boarded-up houses, waste land and prostitution, no bank branches, post office and no pub.
Related
Watch for free
Schools for Moslems Schools for Moslems
Documentary 1980 27 mins Location: Bury
A visit to Darul Uloom School in South Lancashire, the UK's first Muslim school
Watch for free
Xcitement! Xcitement!
Pornography 1960 5 mins Silent
Glamour goddess Pamela Green reveals all in a key ‘60s striptease collaboration with George Harrison Marks.
Watch for free
Heaven (Gay Life) Heaven (Gay Life)
Factual TV 1980 25 mins
The LGBT current affairs series visits the new Heaven nightclub, contrasting it with other parts of London’s gay scene.
Watch for free
Introduction to Northampton Introduction to Northampton
Documentary 1963 17 mins Location: Northampton
Your employer is relocating to Northampton. Will this film convince you it's a good idea for you too?
Watch for free
If I Film at 2fps… If I Film at 2fps…
Amateur film 1965 3 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A ride on the wild side through Middlesbrough and Teesside.
Watch for free
Changing Face of Camberwell Changing Face of Camberwell
Documentary 1963 32 mins Location: Camberwell
Looking back at Camberwell's Victorian history, and forward to the future, this film captures the impact of changing architecture on local residents.
Watch for free
Taskforce Chappletown Taskforce Chappletown
Documentary 1986 25 mins Location: Chapeltown
With low job prospects and poverty on the rise, the govt. steps in to aid the inner cities, generating scant enthusiasm from those living there.
Watch for free
War Weapons Week 1941 War Weapons Week 1941
Home movie 1941 11 mins Silent Location: Chapeltown
A readiness to do whatever is needed, and a certain nonchalance, is evident in these service personnel as they march to raise money, looking confident in their ultimate victory.
Watch for free
Thorncliffe Thorncliffe
Documentary 1935 27 mins Location: Chapeltown
A look at Thorncliffe's extensive industrial heritage - from the 18th century to the 1930s.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.