Film to shine spotlight on unsung heroes

A documentary is touring the UK this spring to celebrate the unsung work of care home staff and the lives of residents.

Shot entirely by care workers at a North East care home during the pandemic, CARE offers an intimate glimpse into care home life and the dedication of its staff. 

The film, which was produced by Newcastle University in partnership with Tongue Tied Films and supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), will be screened later this month across cinemas and universities as part of a multi-city tour coinciding with #CelebratingSocialCare Month.

Supported by partners Community Union, British Gerontology Society, Care England and Cosmic Cat Films, the release comes five years after the first national lockdown and as Government plans for sector reform remain years away.

CARE not only captures moments of joy and resilience but also asks timely questions about how society values care and the people behind it. 

Dr Alastair Cole, director of CARE and senior lecturer in film practice at Newcastle University, said: “CARE began as a response to the pandemic, and out of frustration at the overwhelmingly negative representation in the media of residential care in the UK. 

“This was heightened at a time when care home staff, residents and their families were at the coalface of the global crisis. 

“As a project team, we wanted to bring together our backgrounds in gerontology, media and filmmaking, to try and find a way to work with some of the remarkable staff and residents to help tell another side to this story. 

“We knew as soon as the remote camera workshops started we were incredibly fortunate to have found such a brilliant and enthusiastic team to work with in the home. 

“Then when their footage started coming in, it was clear they had a very important story to tell.”

An online screening will be held alongside the national tour. To find out more about listings, see here.

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