7/7: One Day in London

this documentary was shown on the BBC at the time of the seventh anniversary of the London bombings on 7/7/05. I, like millions of other people, was at work in London on that day, just like any other day. We each have our own experiences of that day. For me, it was being told by the radio that the police were instructing everyone to stay in their offices because they didn't know if we were under attack. Later, walking from Bank all the way to Finsbury Park, in shock, because simply no tubes, buses or mainline trains were operating in or out of London.

7/7: One Day in London, written and filmed by Ben Anthony is one of the most beautifully told documentaries I have ever seen, of any subject. With so much chaos, uncertainty, fear, noise, panic associated with that day, Mr Anthony in a way turned down the sound, or rather stepped back from the shock-direction/panic/hype-style of some disaster documentaries and allowed the stories of some of those directly affected to be heard. The personal narratives of the victims, witnesses and families involved were raw, gentle, observant, sometimes angry, grief-fuelled, sometimes funny, heartbreaking and compelling. The events of that day, thanks to Mr Anthony's approach, were allowed to unfold and speak for themselves. I wept throughout most of the narration and re-telling of the timeline of events. What Mr Anthony also manages to achieve, I think wonderfully, is a very accurate sense of the melting-pot that is London and its inhabitants. I felt an enormous sense of pride, as I always do, to be able to call myself a Londoner. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this documentary. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as it takes you in to the lives of many who were part of the London bombings. You see the 'real people' who were involved, not just names you read in a newspaper or names you heard on the news flicking between channels. In this documentary you stay glued and continue to listen, engaged and involved, and sometimes it's as if you maintain eye contact with each person.

The stories were so personal you felt as though you were standing in the room with them, feeling their pain, sorrow or anguish; and if you had been, you'd surely have given them a hug or a kind word.

The stories were sad, but the impression of people bonding together for the greater good is evident - that people pooled together to help one another.

A bittersweet documentary which grabs your heart and makes you realise the ease and swiftness with which life can change, but also makes you smile at the strength and beautiful memories which each individual held for their dear loved ones.