In the heart of London, a film from the 1980s is making a comeback, but it's not just a trip down memory lane. 'Hotel London' is a powerful commentary on the city's housing crisis, a problem that still haunts the streets today. The film, remastered for a film festival, tells the story of a British Bangladeshi family who were made homeless in the mid-1980s, a time when the city was grappling with a housing crisis that affected ordinary people, not just those with addiction problems. The film's writer-director, Ahmed Alauddin Jamal, wanted to shed light on the struggles of migrants and the harsh reality of temporary housing. With a young Jonathan Pryce playing an Irish rough sleeper, the film is a blend of fiction and video activism, filmed on location in bed and breakfasts after months of research with homeless individuals. The film was made at a time when the euphoria of the war was fading and socialism was crumbling. The economy was shifting towards a more American model, with Margaret Thatcher's policies favoring business and profit-making. This shift led to a housing crisis, with over 40,000 London households classified as homeless by 1989, a number that has tripled in the past 10 years. The film's relevance today is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for affordable housing. The BFI National Archive project is restoring 14 films, including 'Hotel London', to recognize the cultural and political significance of the Black and South Asian British Workshop movement. The workshops, run by organizations like the BFI and Channel 4, produced issue-driven films that challenged racism and promoted secularism. The movement was a response to the social upheaval of the time, and 'Hotel London' is a testament to its enduring legacy. But the question remains: have things improved for those experiencing temporary housing today? The film's message is clear: the housing crisis is far from over.
