This film is currently unavailable
This Question of Colour
Dcumentary about race relations in Britain from a US standpoint, including a report on the 1964 election in Smethwick.
Director: William Brayne
Overview
With frank vox pops in a London nightclub and interviews on the streets of the West Midlands, this is a fascinating (and sadly incomplete) report on the state of equality and discrimination in Britain in 1965. Made from an American perspective, the documentary seeks to investigate the differences between race relations in England and the United States. Along the way, it uncovers vicious racism in the notorious anti-immigrant general election campaign in Smethwick.
Produced as part of the international documentary exchange series Intertel, this programme is presented as it survives in the BFI National Archive with only the second reel of the film. Please note this programme contains offensive language.
Related
A New Kind of Wilderness A New Kind of Wilderness
Documentary 2023 84 mins Director: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
A tragedy shatters the idyllic world of a family living off-grid in the Norwegian wilderness.
Riefenstahl Riefenstahl
Documentary 2024 115 mins Director: Andreas Veiel
Captivating insight into the controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous for her Nazi propaganda.
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.
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.
Sid's Family Sid's Family
Documentary 1972 49 mins Director: Nick Gifford
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
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
A New Kind of Wilderness A New Kind of Wilderness
Documentary 2023 84 mins Director: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
A tragedy shatters the idyllic world of a family living off-grid in the Norwegian wilderness.
Riefenstahl Riefenstahl
Documentary 2024 115 mins Director: Andreas Veiel
Captivating insight into the controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous for her Nazi propaganda.
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.