Paper short abstract:

A coming-of-age story about Harry, a charismatic 11-year-old boy, who arrives at secondary school in suburban London unable to read or write. With the help of Sophie, his extremely dedicated teacher, can he overcome the illiteracy ingrained across generations of his family?

Paper long abstract:

Against the backdrop of a Britain riven with debates around class, identity and social mobility, the film follows Harry over two years as he fights not only to improve academically but also to believe in a different future for himself.

Discussants: Ed Owles and Jaime Taylor.

Ed has shot and directed films in over 20 countries for broadcast, festival and online. He recently produced BFI Doc Society/Sundance/Whickers funded RED HERRING (dir. Kit Vincent, 2023) which is currently screening at festivals worldwide (True/False, Thessaloniki, Sheffield). He has worked as an Associate Lecturer in Documentary/Ethnographic Film at several UK universities. He’s a member of the Royal Anthropological Institute's Film Committee.

Jaime has been making documentaries since 2007, as director, producer, editor and ethnographer for television, museums, education and the third sector. Prior to filmmaking she was an Ofsted graded ‘Outstanding’ teacher in Further Education, working mainly in inner London and with vulnerable groups. She continues to teach, now as Associate Tutor in Ethnographic Filmmaking at the University of East Anglia.