Review: ‘Waterloo Sunset’ – Affordable Urban Oasis

Tourists drifting out of London’s Tate Modern sometimes find themselves peering through the gates of nearby Hopton’s Almshouses, a collection of 20 charming cottages built around a grassy courtyard resembling a village green. If curious visitors inquire about the place, one mischievous resident might quietly suggest it’s an institution for the criminally insane. In reality, Hopton’s is a haven of affordable housing for low-income seniors aged 65 and above, established in the mid-1700s by a philanthropic fishmonger for “the poor and decaying men of the parish.” Like many elite, men-only spaces, it was slow to adapt, admitting women only in 2012.

Securing a flat here is like winning the lottery, says one resident, a former taxi driver who lost everything after a middle-age divorce. Moving to Hopton’s changed his life. This appealing documentary introduces us to a few other residents. Jenny, 92, discusses a recent fall on a bus that left her with a sore back. When asked if she went to the hospital, Jenny looks horrified. “No! I could get up and walk. Why make a fuss?”

Waterloo Sunset is far from being a campaigning film, but it does dispel numerous myths and misconceptions about ageing. Residents express their desire to be seen as an asset to society rather than a drain, and to be valued for their skills. Shamus, a musician at 76, still actively creates music and seeks a record deal. He jokingly says that complaining is one of the perks of getting old, but adds that living at Hopton’s makes it hard to be grouchy. “It’s amazing,” he says.

Set against the backdrop of Richard Rogers-designed Neo Bankside’s steel and glass luxury flats, the Hobbit-style cottages appear tiny. Rogers’s development, which opened in 2013, has come to symbolize how luxury housing often overlooks the needs of ordinary Londoners, failing to fulfill its initial promises of affordable housing. Watching Waterloo Sunset, you might find yourself asking: where are the philanthropic fishmongers today when we need them?

• Waterloo Sunset is at the Forum, Hexham on 22 July, then goes on tour.

Source: The Guardian