Watts Family Films: Karen’s Fourth Birthday, Epsom (1977)

A fourth birthday party begins with a polite tea and ends in balloon-hitting flag-waving anarchy as the kids enjoy their sugar rush.

One splendid detail from this short film of a fourth birthday party in Epsom is the small child violently waving a Union flag at the camera – the flag is marked with the Queen’s face for the forthcoming Silver Jubilee. Otherwise, it features a fairly polite – if messy – tea party followed by chaotic celebrations with balloons and moderate violence. Later, the children mob up in the hallway while party treats are distributed.