After being given the dubious honour of London’s ugliest building, the carbuncular Colliers Wood tower is set to star in a new movie made by an up and coming director.

The film, ‘Living in the Shadow’ by Colliers Wood resident Laurentiu Huianu, takes the viewer on a journey of his community struggling against the developer which owns the Brown and Root tower for a decade.

Mr Huiani, who trained at the Prague film school, has had his films shortlisted at several film festivals including the 2010 Portbello Film Festival and the 2009 Hungarian film festival.

Mr Huianu said: "As the ‘Black Tower of Colliers Wood’ casts its shadow over the area and its inhabitants, the community has to come to terms with the fact that there is no simple solution, but refuses to be silent in the face of this monstrosity and its owner, a powerful businessman, over whom even the local council seems to have no power.

"This film has been in production for more than two years and gives the viewer a glimpse of how the machinery of power and greed can put a normal community under siege."

The film follows events relating to the hated derelict tower over the last year, including the demolition of its adjacent car park, the discovery of an electric sub-station and the subsequent hold up of the demolition, several residents’ meetings, and interviews with members of the local community.

The film will be screened for the first time at the Colliers Wood Community Centre on Friday, 2 December 2011 at 7:15 pm.


About which aspect of life in Merton would you like to see a documentary? Leave a comment below or contact Omar by calling 020 8722 6335; tweeting @OmarOakes or emailing: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.