CITY Screen, York, will show Half Way, Daisy-May Hudson's documentary chronicling the experience of a homeless family living half way between homes, on Tuesday evening.
Told through the eyes of Daisy, as daughter and filmmaker, this 1915 film offers a self-reflexive lens into the physical anguish and mental deterioration of a family caught up as "hidden homeless during Britain’s exploding housing crisis".
Half Way is a rare documentary opportunity where the line between filmmaker and subject is blurred as the viewer witnesses the joyful and humorous moments of everyday family life, up against its inevitable struggles.
"What began as a therapeutic process during a disempowering situation became a mission to complete a film," says the film's publicity blurb. "Half Way has transformed into a critique of Britain's welfare system, its housing crisis and the facelessness of ineffective power from the viewpoint of a family living through it."
Half Way is being shown in City Screen's Discover Tuesdays slot and the 6.15pm screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Taking part will be Brian Robson, policy and research manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Sue Thompson, chairman of trustees at SASH, the Safe and Sound Homes charity that works towards preventing youth homelessness in York.
"I've organised this Q&A as I think anyone seeing Half Way will want to discuss the issues in the film," says City Screen marketing manager Emma Parker. Tickets can be booked on 0871 902 5726 or at picturehouses.com/cinema/York_Picturehouse
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