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New Documentary 'Saving Southbank - The Skatepark Chronicles' - Watch It Here
Friday 31st May 2013 | Jake
A short but very personal documentary debut by Size13 Films, 'Saving Southbank – The Skatepark Chronicles' examines Lambeth council's decision to relocate Southbank skatepark from its current position at Queen Elizabeth Hall undercroft to the undercroft at Hungerford Bridge.
Before watching Saving Southbank I knew a bit about the what was going on already, it's an interesting premise and to be honest it's a story the skaters and artists who use Southbank skatepark could easily get angry and bitter about: 'The Man' replacing an undeniably legendary cultural hub with (literally) a row of shops. Despite this, everyone interviewed in this film comes across as pretty rational and level-headed about the whole thing. Although no one from the 'other side' of the issue was put to interview I don't feel its a problem, the documentary aims to bring us the stories and perspectives of the people who make Southbank skatepark what it is and it does this very well.
Saving Southbank opens with shots of the skatepark and people using the skatepark and already a very informative and revealing thing to note here is that not everyone using the park is skating. There are plenty of people with cameras here to pick up some of the street art and shots of guys skating, people just talking and hanging out and plenty of passerbyers taking some time to watch. This totally captures the essence of this little undercroft on the Southbank before anyone filmed here even speaks.
The film essentially consists of Southbank's users giving us a short history of the skatepark followed by the lowdown of the current situation and what they think about it and its knock on effects. Watching these interviews you really pick up on the emotion and the reverence held for the 40 year old park and if before watching you didn't know how important Southbank is not only to the London art/skate/music scene but to the UK scene, you will after. We're reminded this is not simply the movement of a skatepark but the destruction of a genuine, organic cultural hub, oh the irony that Lambeth council does this in the name of furthering culture. The film ends with a quote that in my opinion neatly sums up what everyone in this documentary feels about Lambeth council – they 'know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.'
Watch the documentary in its entirety here:
directed by Jake Bexx, catch him @jakebexx and @size13films
Jake Pearce @LoopBe1
