Waiting

Handsworth Songs

19861h 1mJohn Akomfrah
IMDb 7.0 · Rotten Tomatoes 100%

Is it for me?

Sign in to check how this title fits your taste.

Synopsis

The Black Audio Film Collective’s acclaimed essay film, 'Handsworth Songs', examines the 1985 race riots in Handsworth and London. Interweaving archival photographs, newsreel clips, and home movie footage, the film is both an exploration of documentary aesthetics and a broad meditation social and cultural oppression through Britain’s intertwined narratives of racism and economic decline.

Documentary
ImmigrationRace RiotRacismUnited KingdomBirmingham

Ask Ray About This

Similar titles for me

Personalized recommendations based on your taste

What I'll love (and hate)

Honest personalized pros and cons

If I loved this...

Your next watch to keep the feeling

More from these creators

Director, writer, and cast filmography

Convince a skeptic

Arguments to get potential cowatcher on board

Hidden details

Easter eggs and things you missed

Where to Watch

Unlock Streaming Availability

Sign up and add your streaming services to instantly see where you can watch this title – no searching, no guessing.

Credits

Cast

Crew

Additional Info

External Links

IMDb

Similar Titles

Frequently asked questions

What is Handsworth Songs (1986) about?

The Black Audio Film Collective’s acclaimed essay film, 'Handsworth Songs', examines the 1985 race riots in Handsworth and London. Interweaving archival photographs, newsreel clips, and home movie footage, the film is both an exploration of documentary aesthetics and a broad meditation social and cultural oppression through Britain’s intertwined narratives of racism and economic decline.

Who stars in Handsworth Songs?

Handsworth Songs stars Pervaiz Khan (Voice Over), Meera Syal (Voice Over), Yvonne Weekes (Voice Over). The film was directed by John Akomfrah.

How long is Handsworth Songs?

Handsworth Songs has a runtime of 1 min and premiered in 1986.

Is Handsworth Songs worth watching?

Handsworth Songs holds an IMDb rating of 7.0/10. On Rotten Tomatoes it scores 100. Fans of Documentary are most likely to enjoy it — TasteRay can tell you how well it matches your personal taste.

Where can I watch Handsworth Songs?

Streaming availability for Handsworth Songs changes by country and service. TasteRay tracks where it is available across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and 50+ other platforms — the current options for your country are shown on this page.