This film is part of Free

Contact
Tense, graphic experimental short film portraying police brutality inside a jail cell.
Overview
This experimental short film uses a jarring percussion soundtrack and graphic imagery to explore police brutality and institutional racism. Joseph Layode plays a black man who is brutally beaten by a uniformed white man with a truncheon. When a white man (Mike Anglesey) enters the cell and extends his hands to Layode, they are violently struck apart by the truncheon. This intense, frenetic film cuts to the quick with its head-on confrontation of the violence of racism.
This challenging short was produced by the London School of Film Technique (later the London Film School), and directed by Philip Mottram, who subsequently spent many years teaching at the school.
Related

Hull Fair (1902) Hull Fair (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 4 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
The ornate pavilions of cinematographs, boxing booths and menageries at Hull Fair.

Divide and Rule - Never! Divide and Rule - Never!
Documentary 1978 41 mins
Young working class Londoners fight racism with the power of rock and reggae in this anarchic documentary.

Jemima + Johnny Jemima + Johnny
1966 29 mins Location: Notting Hill
Touching short about the friendship between a white boy and a black girl in 1960s Notting Hill.

Nigerian Wedding in Cornwall Nigerian Wedding in Cornwall
Current affairs 1964 1 mins Silent Location: Pool
Dressing to please as the happy couple switch wedding dress for national dress.

A World Is Turning A World Is Turning
Documentary 1948 45 mins
A lost chapter in black British film: extraordinary rushes from a documentary showcasing talented members of the black community.

Tunde's Film Tunde's Film
Documentary drama 1974 40 mins Location: Stepney
Tired of being hassled by the police and with no job opportunities, a group of teenage East End lads plan to rob a bank.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.