This film is part of Free
The Market
Boy meets girl - sifting through the tat and treasure of London’s Portobello Road market.
Overview
A couple’s cute flirtation turns sour during a day spent sifting through the tat and treasure of Portobello Road market. The film is an impressionistic story of love and sexual violence, which meanders playfully, melancholically, menacingly along Notting Hill’s busy streets and alleys. Over time it’s inherited a documentary-drama quality, revealing the lives of yesteryear’s hawkers and traders.
The film was shot over several weekends by aspiring amateur director Ron Porter and an enthusiastic gang of friends and volunteers, all hoping to break into the film business. Although this would be Porter’s only film, it did provide a start for some of the crew: Nike Arrighi found roles with Hammer, and her sister Luciana made a career in art direction - later winning two nominations and an Oscar - for Howards End (1992).
Related
Portobello Market Portobello Market
Amateur film 1980 1 mins Location: Notting Hill
Browse the labyrinth of countless colourful stalls and grab yourself a bargain at 1980s Portobello Market
Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival
Amateur film 1976 2 mins Silent Location: Notting Hill
Music, dancing and community characterise this short film from Notting Hill Carnival, 1976.
Portobello Road Market - Personal Film - C1954 Portobello Road Market - Personal Film - C1954
Amateur film 1964 1 mins Silent Location: Notting Hill
Find bric-a-brac and trinkets galore in this vividly colourful snapshot of Portobello Road Market.
Carnival of Tears Today Special Carnival of Tears Today Special
Current affairs 1976 29 mins Location: Notting Hill
Special edition of the current affairs series Today about the planning of the Notting Hill Carnival and clashes with police.
Playing the Environment Game Playing the Environment Game
Documentary 1973 29 mins Location: Euston Sta
In Covent Garden, Notting Hill and Tolmers Square in London, campaigners challenge property developers' plans
Notting Hill Reel 3, Notting Hill (1966) Notting Hill Reel 3, Notting Hill (1966)
Amateur film 1966 4 mins Silent Location: Notting Hill
Fascinating scenes of street life in Notting Hill in the 1960s, showing empty roads, old pubs, rubbish-strewn streets and graffiti.
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.