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By Meghna Gupta

Shot over a year, Laura Fairrie’s unfettered lens records the political struggle between Nick Griffin (BNP leader) and Margaret Hodges (incumbent Labour MP) for the parliamentary seat of Barking in the 2010 general election. Although it is apparent that Fairrie is emotionally closer to Margaret Hodges, in no way is this an imbalanced film, or one that consciously conspires to vilify the BNP. Its simple, effective narrative is an intelligent mechanism. By telling a story of two sides, Fairrie is able to observe the BNP in a less loaded manner than most other forms of media.

Battles however are inherently loaded. War is a theme that consistently provokes emotion in this film – and one with which politicians have endlessly fought elections. Perhaps at their most sympathetic, or least offensive (to the average liberal), the BNP proclaim a radical anti-war stance. Although Hodges isn’t directly made to contest this, Fairrie manages to bring about an implicit yet objective criticism of Labour without being seen to be advocating BNP sentiments.

Wry and absurd details pepper the film. Griffin’s pet of choice is a chameleon which lives in a faux tropical landscape in a glass tank, clearly blissfully oblivious to his owner’s xenophobia. Hodges’ Jimmy Choos daintily dangle on an aide’s arm as she prepares to muck out for a photo opportunity at a construction site laying foundations for affordable homes for the poor. Whilst I was trying to wind back the screener, the DVD got stuck on Griffin and his wife canoodling on election day. Grotesque yet mesmerizing.

The inhabitants of Barking prove to be just as interesting as the film’s main protagonists. In many cases, bystanders have great potential to make banal and boring statements. In this context however, almost all reactions – direct remarks or subtle off-the-cuff looks provide both scrutiny and atmosphere. It sometimes felt like the contributions of these and other supporting characters were cut abruptly short. I would loved to have seen more of Griffin’s wife Jackie, longer conversations between the young and old of Barking, James Gitau, an unbelievable black pastor and BNP member, Hodges’ tearful aide – the list goes on. Mind you, this really counts more as a plea for DVD extras rather than full-blown criticism.

It’s a widely upheld notion that no filmmaker is ever entirely neutral. This film deserves the praise it has received for attempting to go some of that way. Not only does it secure astonishingly intimate access but valuably allows audiences to form their own understanding of how extremist politicians slot into gaps left by mainstream parties.

Dir: Laura Fairrie | UK 2010 | 83 mins

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