Saints

2016

Saint-Helena, the second most remote island in the world, is about to lose its isolation. A story of a small place becoming part of a bigger world

Directed, cinematography

Dieter Deswarte

Co-produced by

Mosaic Films

Produced by

Storyhouse

Running time

HD 70 min

“Saints leaves us with the overwhelming sense that the locals have had little agency in this transformative project. This is modernisation from above. We are reminded of a dichotomy familiar in the postcolonial world: the fragility of voiceless local societies and ecosystems against the inexorable tide of globalisation and development”

Billy Sawyer – Open Democracy

About the film

  • Synopsis

    The tiny island of Saint Helena is so remote and isolated that it was used to imprison the serial escaper Napoleon Bonaparte. Even today it lies a five-day boat journey from the nearest mainland. But life on this remote British Outpost will soon be changed for good with the arrival of an international airport. As the construction of the airport begins, the Saints, as they are known, wonder how their lives will change as the high-end eco-tourists start to arrive. An ode to an island that for many years lay forgotten in the South Atlantic Ocean.

  • Details

    HD 70 min / HD 44 min /HD 30 min

    Directed & Filmed by: Dieter Deswarte

    Sound: Kwinten van Laethem & Yann-Elie Gorans

    Editor: Ariadna Fatjo-Vilas

    Music: Roman Hiele

  • Enquire to view the full film

    If youd like to watch any of our previous films or find out more then dont hesitate to drop us a line at info@yarrowfilms.co.uk

See also

Jan Morris – Battleship Yamato: Of War, Beauty and Irony

Jan Morris in conversation about her book Battleship Yamato: Of War, Beauty and Irony

Our Voice

Over two summers, a group of women living in Tower Hamlets, came together to tell stories of their lives through photography, film and radio. Challenges like the cost-of-living crisis, mental health issues and poor-quality housing are part of their narrative, but overwhelming they wanted to tell the story of community and opportunity in Tower Hamlets.

 

Together they created one short film, two podcasts, a photographic exhibition, and a publication.