This film is part of Rentals
Sid's Family
You know Seven Up, but have you heard of Sid's Trilogy? See life through Jamaican-born father Sid's eyes in this 70s doc
Director: Nick Gifford
Overview
"A simple, entirely unaffected portrait of a family which happens to be black" is how Sid's Family was described by a Monthly Film Bulletin reviewer at the time of its release. Indeed, this mostly fly-on-the-wall documentary exudes warmth and candour, without recourse to narration and surplus context, and its freshness of approach hasn't tarnished one bit with age.
The film is the first in a trilogy charting the lives of Jamaican-born, Bristol-based Sid Williams and his family at eight year intervals from 1972 through 1980 to 1988. In this respect it recalls ITV's much-lauded series Seven Up, which has followed the lives of 14 British children since 1964. The sequel to Sid's Family, The Good Father (1980), is also available on BFI Player. In the same year as this film, director Nick Gifford made the similarly-themed film Oh for the Wings of a Dove, a portrait of a Pakistani family living in Birmingham, which is also available to view on BFI Player.
Related
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story
Documentary 2025 100 mins Director: Sinéad O'Shea
A candid portrait of a literary sensation that’s as enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels.
Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.
Dust & Metal Dust & Metal
Documentary 2022 82 mins Director: Esther Johnson
Discover unfamiliar histories of Vietnam through Esther Johnson’s poetic documentary on the country’s love affair with the motorbike.
Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Antony Crook
Celestial sonic odyssey charting the cult Scottish band’s expansive career from the mid-90s to their tenth studio album written during lockdown.
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Ernest Cole: Lost and Found
Documentary 2024 107 mins Director: Raoul Peck
Raoul Peck’s sorrowful portrait of Ernest Cole, the first photographer to expose the horrors of apartheid to the world.
The Rubber-Keyed Wonder The Rubber-Keyed Wonder
Documentary 2024 141 mins Director: Anthony Caulfield and Nicola Caulfield
If you are a fan of the ZX Spectrum, grew up in the 80s or 90s or just love video games then this film is for you!
Born in-a Babylon Born in-a Babylon
Documentary 2000 35 mins Director: Nicolas Chaudeurge
A portrait of Rastafarians living in Tottenham at the start of the new millennium.
Immigrants Immigrants
Documentary 1965 25 mins Director: Peter Davis and Staffan Lamm
A fascinating, unsettling study of immigration in 1960s English cities.
Negro next Door Negro next Door
Current affairs 1965 27 mins Director: Peter Robinson
The white residents of a Leeds suburb express their troubling thoughts on their new black neighbours.
Mixed Marriages Mixed Marriages
1958 14 mins Director: Rollo Gamble
Broadcaster Daniel Farson explores different points of view about interracial marriages from 'ordinary' people.
Good Father Good Father
Documentary 1980 59 mins Director: Nick Gifford
You'll be delighted to meet Sid Williams and his six children, from Montpelier in Bristol, in this engaging documentary
Coloured Voting - Hidden Issue Coloured Voting - Hidden Issue
Factual TV 1964 14 mins Director: James Butler
Current affairs programme from Birmingham investigating the possible impact that immigration and racial prejudice may have on the upcoming election.
Good Father Good Father
Documentary 1980 59 mins Director: Nick Gifford
You'll be delighted to meet Sid Williams and his six children, from Montpelier in Bristol, in this engaging documentary
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story
Documentary 2025 100 mins Director: Sinéad O'Shea
A candid portrait of a literary sensation that’s as enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels.
The Penguin Lessons The Penguin Lessons
Drama 2025 112 mins Director: Peter Cattaneo
Steve Coogan is superb as a disillusioned teacher whose life is turned upside-down when he rescues a penguin in turbulent 1970s Argentina.
Cloud Cloud
Drama 2024 124 mins Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
An online scam leads to deadly consequences in Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s chilling tech thriller.
La Cocina La Cocina
Drama 2024 139 mins Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios
Tensions rise in a frenzied New York diner, in this loose reworking of Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play.
Mr. Burton Mr. Burton
Biopic 2024 124 mins Director: Marc Evans
Toby Jones is terrific as the inspirational mentor who helped propel Richard Burton from the poor son of a Welsh miner to acting legend.
Misericordia Misericordia
Drama 2024 104 mins Director: Alain Guiraudie
French provocateur Alain Guiraudie's rural homecoming story mixing passion, crime, mushrooms and bedroom farce to dizzily involving effect.