Evocative sea shanty songs take us to St Katharine Docks on the Thames and set the scene. This was a landing and departure point for immigrants settling in the UK and emigrants heading off to the new World. Immigration and emigration represent striving for a better world, yet from the 1905 aliens act onwards the UK began to shut its’ borders. The film suggests that while attitudes to immigration have been de-racialised there has been more closure than ever before and situates today’s anti immigrant sentiment within a culture of limits.
The film incorporates inspiring arguments from the Battle of Ideas immigration debate and features Bruno Waterfield Brussels correspondent for The Daily telegraph who argues “anti immigration sentiments represent a closure of the historical imagination”
WORLDwrite Director Ceri Dingle explains:
“This is a positive pro immigration film, not a tragic story, not an exceptional case but a fresh appraisal of the debate with a much needed historical perspective. Cutting through the depressing low expectations we have for what is possible today, the title of the film says it all.”
The More the Merrier will be launched along with a further short documentary Cash Back highlighting the role of remittances (monies sent by migrants and diasporas back to countries of origin) at the new Vibe Lounge, Brick lane, London E1 on Sunday 20th April at 6pm. Speakers will include Philippe Legrain, (Author Immigrants their country needs you) Claire Fox (Director Institute of Ideas) and a representative of Open the Borders – a spiked-online campaign.
For interviews, preview copies and press passes please contact world.write@
The launch is open to the public and tickets may be purchased from http://www.justgiving.com/
A trailer may viewed at http://www.worldwrite.org.uk/
