Door 69 – get down for a bank holiday warm up

bristol | protests | opinion/analysis Monday August 24, 2009 23:11 by Barry Cade on the streets

a little something to get you in the mood for the Bookfair and Co-Mutiny...

Door 69, or just plain '69', is the story of a house that held the hopes and aspirations of young people for nigh on 25 years, in Copenhagen. '69' is a film and you can see it at The Croft on 31 August, at about 6.30pm.

'69' before eviction

It is the story of the Ungdomshuset, or youth house, that came into ownership of the city authorities in the late 1970's, and was assigned to a group of young people in 1982. Originally built in 1897 as a Folkets Hus, or The Peoples House, the building was for most of its life a base for the labour movement and related political groups. After being assigned to the youth in 1982, the building was subsequently ravaged by fire in 1996, and the authorities decided to close it due to repair costs. Instead the young activists repaired it themselves to a standard acceptable to the fire authorities, and it reopened on 1 March 1997. In 1999 the house was put up for sale to the highest bidder after disputes between the authorities and youth. Ownership subsequently changed hands several times, and court cases ensued, but the owners never accessed inside the house.

In the late 1970's the house was worth about 700000 Danish krone, by 2006 it was worth 13million krone. On 1 March 2007, after many battles, and 10 years after the youth renovated it, the youth were finally evicted. Many more serious battles commenced across Denmark and around Europe as a result of the military style eviction.

'69' was directed and shot by first-time film-maker Nikolaj Viborg, and looks at the dramatic events leading up to the authorities clearing Ungdomshuset on 1 March 2007 and the conflict that ensued. The film won the prestigious talent New Nordic Voices award at Nordisk Panorama 2008. It lasts about an hour. More info with links here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungdomshuset

The film offers interesting parallels with UK and Bristol culture, touching on issues of land ownership, regeneration, speculation, youth identity & awareness, democracy, autonomous activity, and of course defending your own place! For Bristol's radical culture there may be lessons to learn in the run up to the anarchist bookfair and the week of events under the Co-Mutiny convergence banner. If not, well, its a cracking good film!

The film shows as part of a fundraiser for the anarchist bookfair. From 8pm onwards the Bastard Squad collective invite you to skank your pants off to:
USUAL SUSPECTS (Dangerous anarchist ska-dub-punk, on the run from Belgium and coming for your cider!)
HEADJAM (From London; madness, genius, you'll know you wanna dance!)
JAKAL (feral, wild-eyed punk ska-vengers from London)
SPANNER (They just will not be quiet! Militant ska-punk from Bristol)

Its all at The Croft, 117-119 Stokes Croft, BS1. Doors at 6pm, film 6.30pm, first band 8pm, ends at 12. A mere fiver on the door, which raises funds so that the bookfair remains a free event. See http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/article/690808

on the streets in self-defence

capital and the state - smash it up