Behind the Film: (Mum) - Worcester Film Festival

Introduction:

(Mum) is a drama exploring female homelessness. It is set in Tottenham and dramatises the real-life experiences of Christine, a friend of mine who has been unhoused for 7 years. It is inspired by her own lived experience, and I will be forever grateful for her candidness and her trust in me to tell this story.

Inspiration:

Female rough sleeping is shockingly dangerous. Big Issue “found that experiences of violence and abuse are near universal for women who sleep rough, and the average age of death is just 43 years old….Half as long as most women in the UK are expected to live.” As being a female rough sleeper is unusual, there are few safeguards and little infrastructure in place to help unhoused women. Women have to hide, literally living on the very fringes of society to survive. (Mum) is a tribute to these women living on the edge.

The Process:

Christine is a warm and maternal woman, known locally as ‘Mum.’ Christine’s presence on the street is cathartic for many of the other rough sleepers, and she often looks out for more vulnerable people than herself. So although her situation is incredibly tough, she selflessly spends a lot of time and energy helping and supporting others on the street. And I found this element of her story particularly poignant.
I started to interview her, paying her for her time, whilst not knowing quite what our project was going to be. (Mum) is a dramatisation, but it is based on Christine’s lived experience and insights. Sharing the initial draft of the script with Christine was terrifying. I desperately hoped I had done her justice. Thankfully, she loved it, even shedding some tears. Christine continued to work on (Mum) as a paid consultant, adding her valuable knowledge and eye for authenticity.

What It Means to Be a Finalist:

The whole team is incredibly proud to be recognised at Worcester Film Festival. The number of female rough sleepers is growing, and this is a UK-wide problem that needs addressing. (Mum) was written to shine a light on this urgent issue. But I also want to show that being homeless doesn’t mean you can’t create art and tell stories and have significance. Christine’s voice is powerful and unique, and I want it to be heard, so it is extra special for Christine to be a finalist.