Review by trishbowiekyms

I was delighted to have the opportunity to see Pavee Lackeen at Soho and take part in the Q&A session with Perry Ogden afterwards. Even though I can appreciate the artistic aspect of the film and Perry Ogden's intention to highlight certain aspects of lifestyle problems, i.e, housing and education, I cannot understand what he is alluding to when he says that he wants to 'challenge people's perceptions'. Far from challenge, I think Perry has managed to confirm some people's entrenched and negative views of the travelling population. What aspects of the film celebrated the culture? When I put some of my concerns to Perry at the Q&A, he was keen to point out to me that it was not meant to be a 'bleeding heart documentary'...(not that I inferred that, his words, not mine)...and he 'told' me that ...I had to 'understand about the culture'. O.K Perry, so not only do you think you have a license to represent the traveller community ('I understand the language, it's my language now'), you obviously feel you can talk for others. As a professional involved in children's right's, I was concerned about your lack of sensitivity to Winnie and her mother. The boundaries in the film were so blurred, viewers were confused as to what was fact for the family and what was fiction. When a vulnerable 10year old child is brave enough to speak up for herself and ask for something quite specific (Please take out the glue sniffing scene as I am worried about what people may think of me), best case scenario, Perry, it could be seen as ignorance on your part to leave it in, worst case scenario, it could be perceived as abusive. In a world where the media groom and manipulate vulnerability for the purpose of achieving artistic recognition...well done, I'd say that's a 10 out of 10.