Home / Series / BBC Documentaries / Aired Order / Season 1972 / Episode 3

The Block

A moving film about people who live below the poverty line and their struggle to keep afloat. In the London Borough of Southwark the tenants of Chaucer House, a decrepit half-way house for homeless families, reach breaking point. Angry that once more Southwark had failed to deliver on their promise to tear down the flat block and provide adequate alternative accommodation they stage a demonstration and wait for the officials next move. At the heart of their demonstration is a plea for better housing, better treatment, more understanding and above all a better future. This highly acclaimed documentary examines the way the officials deal, not only with the tenants of Chaucer, but with those living on or below the poverty line - people subjected daily to interrogation, investigation - those who seem to have been rejected by society. Following the release of the documentary Chaucer House was demolished a year later.

English
  • Originally Aired September 19, 1972
  • Runtime 60 minutes
  • Content Rating United States of America TV-PG
  • Network BBC
  • Notes Is a season finale
  • Created December 10, 2017 by
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  • Modified December 10, 2017 by
    Administrator admin