David Lee, a supporter of The Winchester Beacon, was the manager of the Wessex Film and Sound Archive based at Hampshire Record Office. Before his retirement, he attended an international conference of film and sound archivists in Philadelphia where he was shown the film. It had a profound effect upon David. David asked if he could share the film with our supporters and help to raise funds for The Winchester Beacon.
‘On the Bowery’ is a 1956 American docufiction film directed by Lionel Rogosin. The film was awarded Best Documentary at the Venice Film Festival and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
After the Second World War, Lionel Rogosin vowed to fight fascism and racism anywhere he found it. In 1954, he left the family business and pursued film-making. As he needed experience, he looked for a subject and was struck by the plight of the men on the Bowery, and he decided that a portrayal of their daily lives on the streets and in the bars of the New York City neighbourhood known as Skid Row would make a strong film.
Lionel spent six months getting to know the men on the Bowery, even living alongside them, before recruiting some of them to appear in his drama documentary alongside an actor posing as a newcomer to the district, looking for work and accommodation.
Whilst times have changed and the film does not perhaps reflect the lives of the residents of The Winchester Beacon it does provide insight into the challenges of homelessness.
The film will be screened on Thursday 20th October at 7:30 pm at The Arc, Jewry Street. The film will be introduced by David who will provide background and context.
Tickets are £10 with all profits going towards The Winchester Beacon’s Donate for Dignity fundraising appeal which hopes to raise £50,000 to replace the communal bathroom at The Winchester Beacon with individual shower units.
