Swansea Love Story
I always feel kind of unease whenever I watch documentaries about druggies, shanty town and any subject like that. I am not able to explaing what are my feelings, but you probably feel alike: watching other 'real' people doing wrong. Why should I watch it? On the other side, as long as they are true, probably we should see what goes on. Just ignoring the fact would solve it? No.
I don't know Swansea except for Dylan Thomas and recently for Twin Town:
I have just spotted on VBS a documentary called Swansea Love Story. Let me simply quote what they say on the documentary:
In 2009, Swansea drug agencies reported a 180 percent rise in heroin use, and it’s visible on the city’s streets. Early one morning we meet a young, homeless couple named Amy and Cornelius in a city centre alley. As heroin-addicted alcoholics, they’re smack in the middle of two of South Wales’s most ever-present epidemics.
Well, you know already what to expect from the documentary. What was as surprise to me was that it was (the fil) so beautifully done and impressive. It starts nicely with a male choir singing while there is a panorama shot of the seaside, but then it punches you in the jaw with the story of Amy and Cornelius: two young yunkies with a very sad life...
The documentary continues (6 parts) explaining about how industrial crisis hit Swansea, and how things have been going from bad to worste in the few years. Stylistically, the documentary is impressive. It's disturbing because this is probably how it should be (if that does not disturb you you are very cynical).
All my apologies if any Welsh around feels like I am just doing wrong by promoting such a ugly point of view on their country. I just think that the documentary is worth watching.
In fact, I would recommend you to visit http://www.vbs.tv because it has plenty of really good documentaries (on many different issues, but usually quite upsetting like this one).
01 March 2010