On the block

On the Block is the work of a group of young filmlmmakers as they captured their neighbourhood - one of Dublin’s best known and sometimes notorious public housing complexes - Fatima Mansions. ArkLink, an initiative of The Ark Children’s cultural centre developed the Fatima Mansions Film Club and worked with young people over a three- year period. A core group of children would meet up on a Saturday morning and venture out to film the goings-on around the flats. Through nurturing the children’s own creativity and confi dence, a model evolved that created the right environment to ensure the children were the filmmakers. The talented young filmmakers interviewed some really important people including An Taoiseach, the Prime Minister, The President of Ireland, Dublin’s Lord Mayor and the local ice-cream man. At the time of filming the youngest filmmaker was eight years old and the eldest only 12. Their intimate perspectives give fresh insight into the hopes and aspirations of children growing up in a disadvantaged community.