This event has ended!

View current events hosted by PocketPictures

At the Epicentre (Q&A with Ruhi Hamid)

Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 7:30 PM (GMT)

London, Greater London

Ticket Information

Ticket Type Sales End Price Fee Quantity
Standard Ended £5.00 £0.00
Concession Ended £4.00 £0.00

Event Details

Winner: The Rory Peck Award for Features “She renders herself invisible and lets the stories unfold on their own. She took huge risks...[and] connected political issues to the characters without turning the film into a polemic.” Judge’s Comment Only memories remain for the villagers in Lampuuk, an hour's drive from Banda Aceh in Indonesia, the city closest to the epicentre of the earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004. Ruhi Hamid’s film tells the story of a village flattened by the 2004 Tsunami. When the tsunami hit the village it killed 6,000 inhabitants, leaving behind just 1,000 to mourn the loss of their families, friends and homes. “Capturing the stories of my characters was often upsetting, but my motivation was to tell their incredible stories of courage, resilience and hope in rebuilding their lives and observe the complexities of the politics around the disaster,” said Ruhi about her film. ”Everyone is taking care of each other here… and we are becoming a solid community,” says Anita, one of the 100 villagers who returned to Lampuuk six weeks after the tragedy to begin the reconstruction. Anita is convinced that the tsunami is a punishment. “it is a warning from Allah,” she says, “because we have neglected our faith.” Rebuilding is a daunting prospect, but like the rest of Aceh, the survivors are refusing to let the disaster destroy what little they have left. Ruhi Hamid's documentary was made in cooperation with BBC, and it tells the story of those who decided to stay. Director: Ruhi Hamid Production Company: BBC Country: UK Year of Production: 2005 Running Time: 49 mins