Launderette

Bertie Telezynski's film is a lovely little portrait of a nocturnal community, the users of a late night launderette somewhere in London. Bertie asks his subjects the same few questions, but the answers are wildly variable.

There's a quick explanation of string theory, which might already be familiar to those who have seen Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World. There's an intimacy to some the answers that echoes some of the stories in Barber's Dozen. It's dark outside, and thanks to Liam Cook's sound work the low rumble of driers and washers always keeps us in the context. With a strong establishing shot of the titular launderette, it's clear this is a small illuminated island in the sea of night, and this film tells us something about its inhabitants.