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Communes - A Beautiful Way To Live

1971 , Downham Market (Norfolk)

Cat no. 204944

Anglia TV documentary about people who are living an alternative lifestyle in communes in Downham Market and Watton, Norfolk.

Anglia Television documentary about communal living, featuring two communes that are prospering in Norfolk. The first, is a gathering of artists who live at a former school – the Crow Hall Commune in Downham Market. The second commune visited is near Watton, at The Old Rectory Farm in Scoulton, where artist and novelist Cressida Lindsay lives with her five children and fellow artists. This documentary explores why people choose to live in these so-called alternative communities. Is it the desire to escape from the pressures and materialistic nature of twentieth century life? Are there any problems with living in large groups? Is it just romantic idealism? Inhabitants of Crow Hall talk about their experience of communal living, and scenes show the typical activities of the tenants. Activities include producing art, mealtimes, children’s play education. The documentary then focuses on The Old Rectory at Watton where novelist Cressida Lindsay lives. Cressida and fellow tenants explain their reasons for living at the commune. Both Crow Hall and Old Rectory Farm communes are part of the Commune Movement established in 1965. In 1971, the Movement is run from a vegetarian restaurant, Arjuna, in Cambridge, and the Movement’s first secretary is Sarah Eno. Interview with Sarah Eno at Arjuna. Joan Harvey is a some-time doubter of the movement, claiming some members to be nothing more than Romantic idealists. The documentary returns to the inhabitants of The Old Rectory and they talk about their experience of communal living, and how that differs from the ideas that others have about how people in communes live.

Keywords

Alternative lifestyles; artists; housing.

Other Places

Scoulton; Cambridge; Watton

  • Director : Harry Aldous

  • Producer : John Lloyd Fraser

  • Other : John Lloyd Fraser (Written by)

  • Camera : Ian Craig

  • Sound : Dennis Arundell

  • Editor : Michael O'Halloran

  • Other : Charles Earl (Dubbing Mixer)

  • Production company : Anglia Television

Manifestations

Communes - A Beautiful Way To Live

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