We’re Still Here

Melissa Herman’s We’re Still Here is the story of how the wealthy exploit the working-class and how a community response can prevail. Filmed over four years, this documentary explores how the property developers can manipulate and influence local councils in order to demolish estates and build housing ‘ordinary’ people cannot afford.

This film was eye-opening for me. It is shocking to me that councils are allowing estates, and, more importantly, people’s homes to be knocked down purely for more expensive housing and ‘social cleansing’. Furthermore, it hit close to home as I remembered the fire at Grenfell Tower and the indescribable devastation it caused. Everyone in Britain will know about this. However, I doubt many people are aware of the lack of care towards the victims who were left grieving and homeless. The entire documentary explores the fact housing associations are no longer “cuddly and charitable” but instead are now “mass private landlords” unwilling to help those who cannot afford their high prices. It is a small minority against everyone else.  

The end credits, with the current situation of some of the residents, illustrate that once a community comes together to fight back against something wrong, the situation can be changed. Through protesting, petitions, speaking to those in power, the small voices can be heard and change is brought about, for example NatWest changed their policy in allowing private landlords to rent to people on benefits. 

In my opinion, it is documentaries like We’re Still Here that evoke education, revolution and change. 

Written by Gabriella Ingamells