The Poly

24 Church St, Falmouth : 01326 319461
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society

What's On Calendar

Have a look at the calendar text here to see what's coming up.

Films // Coming up // Radical Film Night: May '68
30 May
Wednesday
7:00pm

Radical Film Night: May '68

 

Commemorating 50 years since these explosive student-led protests, punctuating worldwide unrest during this tumultuous decade, a screening of widely acclaimed SOMETHING IN THE AIR, followed by Frida Go's Hidden History of Britain's #SpyCops with short films and discussion.


19:00 // SOMETHING IN THE AIR

Dir. Olivier Assayas | France 2013 | 122 min | 15 | subtitles

Following his success with Summer Hours and Carlos, acclaimed director Olivier Assayas turns his attention to 1970s Paris with an effusive, unrestrained and exhilarating homage to the years that changed it all. After the May ‘68 protests, young Parisian student Gilles is taken in by the political and creative turmoil of the times. Through a haze of wild parties, social activism and romantic encounters, he and his friends partake in some of the most defining moments of the post-war period. But as the weight of reality presses down on him, issues of personal responsibility and the nature of idealism will cause him to question his actions and his hopes for the future.

21:15 // WHO BROKE THE DREAM OF '68?

Frida Go presents A Hidden History of Britain's #SpyCops

May '68. A ferment of students, workers, campaigners for women, minority, sexual and animal rights, environmentalists, artists and musicians have take to the barricades demanding equality, freedom, peace..

"Beneath the paving stones, the beach.."   (Guy Debord)

Fifty years on, the world looks very different; in some ways better, in many ways worse. What became of that joyous, rebellious spirit?

Few people in Britain are yet fully aware that since 1968, thousands of campaigns for social, racial and gender justice, a livable climate and an end to war, also leftist groups including the Labour party of course, have been systematically infiltrated and disrupted by unaccountable and politically motivated secret police.  

It was after anti-war demonstrations at the US Embassy in London's Grosvenor Square that the Metropolitan Police established the Special Demonstration Squad. Over the past 50 years, hundreds of#SpyCops, known as 'hairies' by their colleagues, were planted deep into networks of citizens working for a better world. hTey pretended to care as they sexually assaulted women and referred to us, their targets, as 'wearies'. A lot of us are now very weary, in light of all of this..  

A few years back, some brave activists identified some #SpyCops and exposed their abuse. I found that I had filmed an undercover policewoman at work as a clandestine insurgent rebel clown, and sold the footage to Channel 4 News. Part of a very small minority of citizens who can prove we were spied upon, I'm now a core participant in Theresa May's Public Inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales. Perhaps inevitably, this judge-led 'Public' Inquiry is secretive, and seems stalled. 

Will it take a Peoples' Public Inquiry to uncover how #SpyCops broke the dreams of a generation.. and the lessons to be learned?



Brief artist's talk with short films and space for audience reflection, debate.

Tickets: £7.75 adult / £6 concession (inc. Poly Fund)


Pic

Portrait Drawing in Charcoal

Charcoal is a very forgiving medium, and is the perfect preparation for painting in oils, but without the complication...

Find out more

National Theatre Live: Vanya (15)

Andrew Scott brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens’ radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. ...

Find out more

James B Partridge presents: Primary School Assembly Bangers Live!

Nostalgic singalong with comedic reflections on growing up in the 90s ...

Find out more
Contact us:

T: 01326 319461
E: info@thepoly.org

Address:

The Poly, 24 Church Street, Falmouth, TR11 3EG

Social Media:

Keep up to date with The Poly:

Icon Icon Icon


© The Poly - The Poly is the trading name of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society Limited, a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales with company registration number 03909555 and registered charity number 1081199, with its registered office at 24 Church Street, Falmouth TR11 3EG