The purpose of this documentary is to delve into the beauty, the culture, and the people of Handsworth. This small area of Birmingham, with a history of protests and community action, still holding on to arts, pride, and vibrancy to preserve and project “more unity, more community”.

This documentary was not made to dispel the negative press and beliefs about Handsworth being a ‘violent’ and an ‘unsafe’ place to be in Birmingham, but to show that Handsworth is more than its worse headlines. This documentary has been made by and for the people of Handsworth, as I believe that they deserve to see the hard work they put into their community. Throughout the making of this project, I have been able to explore the nature of my neighbourhood, as well as the art of the heart at its centre.

I hope that this exploration will allow those who know nothing of Handsworth to see the warmth and light of a community that is often portrayed as cold and dark. As for the people of Handsworth I hope that I have managed to encapsulate a morsel of the culture and community that thrives within it.

Throughout this documentary I have incorporated raw and hand-held footage in order to emphasise that history and community truly exist ‘in the moment’. I found this important as we often forget that historic moments (regardless of grandeur) do not pause for professional equipment, nor does said equipment preserve the innate chaos of the hustle and bustle of our modern communities. Throughout the planning and filming of this process I have drawn inspiration from both archive footage and pictures of Handsworth, dating back to the 19th century, and how they capture the beauty of Handsworth, to the public art created and curated during production.

This documentary may only be an infinitesimal glimpse into the nurture and the nature of Handsworth, but to me, these people, these public art pieces, the squirl scouts, and historic park- they are what keep the “Heart of Handsworth” beating.