Member Article

Local filmmakers portray Bangladeshi experiences in South Shields

A Tyneside based film company have completed two documentaries, which highlight the experience of Bangladeshi communities living in the north of England.

Bangla Dreams, based in South Shields have just wrapped up filming on two films that portray life as part of a minority community in the North East. The documentaries are set to be important educational tools, which will show changes in the experience of Bangladeshi people over the past 40 years.

The first documentary entitled 1960 Bidesh explores the migration and settlement of the regions Bangladeshi community during 1960s. It tells the personal stories of the first wave of Bangladeshis who came to South Shields, showing their passion, sacrifice and courage for a new life which would involve fear and dreams.

The second documentary titled 2006 Bidesh focuses on the Bangladeshi youth of today, focusing on their views on the Bangladeshi culture, how they lead a dual life of having to incorporate the Western Culture into the Bangla Culture. It tells of their dilemmas with identity, am I British or Bangladeshi or both?

Bangla Dreams are a voluntary group based in South Shields who wants to raise the profile of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people in the film and media industry. They were established at the end of 2003 as a pilot project and with 62 volunteer members and nine semi-professional filmmakers joining on the back of the ventures success, it was decided in February 2004 to produce a feature film.

The documentaries are in the process of being edited, and will hopefully be premiered in November.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .