Dark Days

Marc Singer, US 2000. 94mins

Filmed over two years by first time director Marc Singer and many of the film’s subjects, Dark Days is an intimate portrait of the subterranean world of tunnel dwellers — a group of men and women living in an abandoned area of New York City’s underground railway system.

Where: Golden Lion, 116 Sydenham Road
When: 7.30pm Thursday 26 June 2014
Tickets: £5 on the door; FREE to members!

With Singer himself living in the tunnels for the before and during filming, the camera pointed at this unseen world is not that of an outsider. It is a camera that makes no assumptions and allows those who have created a home in amongst the dark tunnels tell their own stories, exposing the patchwork of histories, dreams and personalities.

Beautifully shot in black and white with a soundtrack by DJ Shadow, Dark Days tackles the subject of homelessness with profound sensitivity and significant humour, offering a masterclass in cinematic language along the way.

Picking up awards for cinematography and best documentary, Dark Days took the film world by storm on its release in 2000. Re-released by distributors Dogwoof to celebrate their tenth birthday, we invite you to revisit this unique cinema experience at your friendly local film club.

★★★★★ ‘A remarkable film, and an unmissable rediscovery.’ Tom Huddleston, TIME OUT

★★★★★ ‘One of the most courageous and committed piece of documentary filmmaking I have seen’ Wendy Ide, THE TIMES

★★★★ ‘A tough compassionate movie…and it still has the power to shock’ Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN

★★★★ ‘A startling and very moving insight into the experiences of a homeless community’ Geoffrey McNab, THE INDEPENDENT