The Battle for Barking - 2010 documentary

MakeEmLaugh

This is one of my favourite political documentaries. It was made by a filmmaker called Laura Fairrie for More 4. It deals with the 2010 General Election in the UK, specifically the constituency of Barking, in which Nick Griffin of the BNP and Margaret Hodge of Labour fought to win a seat.

Its length allowed us a real insight into how a campaign is fought. I actually felt it didn't demonise the BNP as much as you may expect. I don't think the BNP came off well, but it wasn't down to any manipulation on the part of the filmmakers. It was more to do with their own behaviour on camera.

It dealt with moments like the death of Hodge's husband, the brief part when the BNP had a black member, scuffles between its activists and people in the street.

Has anyone seen it?

LuckyLloyd

I haven't seen it but it looks interesting, I'll check it out.

LuckyLloyd

Watched it there. Good documentary on a very interesting campaign particularly in light of the BNP taking less than two thousand votes total yesterday and being confirmed as disappeared into the abyss.

If I was being critical I would say the film could have got more into daily strategy meetings and reactions to polling, etc. But there was clearly a more human and emotional side to this that was good.

You may like a film called The War Room about the 1992 US election that gets inside a campaign a little more. I think the process of election campaigns is a very interesting topic.

MakeEmLaugh

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

You may like a film called The War Room about the 1992 US election that gets inside a campaign a little more. I think the process of election campaigns is a very interesting topic.

Thanks, I'll see if I can track it down!

LuckyLloyd

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

Thanks, I'll see if I can track it down!

Full movie on youtube