'To succeed meant to leave': inside the jolting film about Brummie estate kids knocked flying by demolition
The novel had no hero, no dialogue and little action. So how was I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning turned into such a funny, rousing and acclaimed film? Director Clio Barnard reveals all
TL;DR
- The film 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' is an adaptation of Keiran Goddard's novel, set in and around the Shard End estate in Birmingham.
- The story follows five childhood friends whose lives are impacted by the demolition of their council estate, symbolizing societal change and regeneration.
- The novel originally had no dialogue and little action, presenting a cinematic challenge for director Clio Barnard.
- The film explores themes of social mobility, class differences, and the difficulty of leaving one's origins behind, with characters representing different paths after the estate's demolition.
- Director Clio Barnard focused on depicting the 'system' as the antagonist and found hope and compassion in the characters, aiming for a more optimistic narrative.
- The film's production involved the local community, with filming taking place on the Shard End estate, providing a sense of closure for Goddard.
- Goddard reflects on his own experience of social mobility, feeling like a 'ghost' between two lives, and questions the viability of stories about common lives.
- The film has received critical acclaim, including at the Cannes film festival, and is seen as a form of 'old-school social realism'.