Rob Munday
Growing up in the UK, without the chance to travel abroad during my childhood, my summer holidays were spent exploring some of Britain’s most notorious seaside resorts. These were the coastal towns that flourished in a bygone era, before the advent of package holidays, places that seemed frozen in time. Once bustling hubs for working-class families across England, they’ve since fallen victim to the rise of air travel and cuts to rail services. However, their plight has taken a new turn with the looming threat of climate change.
In her SXSW short film, Where the Sun Always Shines, Rosie Baldwin guides viewers on a journey through Bognor Regis, a town infamous for being crowned the ‘Worst Seaside Town in the UK’ in 2022. Through intimate portrayals of its inhabitants, Baldwin’s 17-minute short examines both the area’s history and its uncertain future and sheds light on the community’s struggle against its tarnished reputation and the escalating challenges posed by global warming.
“I wanted to explore the meaning of home and what happens when that is threatened by climate disaster”
Guiding us through the iconic features of the seaside resort – its miniature golf courses, bingo halls, and bowling greens – we hear from various Bognorian’s as they proclaim their love for their hometown. However, this nostalgic talk soon turns to the present and the future, after a title card explains that research from Climate Central predicts that Bognor Regis will be underwater due to rising sea levels by 2050.
“When I read the research that Bognor could be underwater within my lifetime, I knew that the story I wanted to tell was one of a community grappling with the reality of something so difficult to imagine or conceptualise”, Baldwin reveals. The director further explaining that it was her intention to use her short film as a way to “explore the meaning of home and what happens when that is threatened by climate disaster.”
Born in Bognor Regis herself, Baldwin naturally infuses her film with a personal perspective, yet one doesn’t need to have visited her hometown for the short to strike a chord. By shedding light on the vulnerabilities of this specific area, the filmmaker aims to draw attention to parallel challenges encountered worldwide. “Bognor is a microcosm of what we’re seeing on a global scale and as always, it will be the least wealthy in all societies, and areas that have been ignored, that will bear the brunt of the climate emergency”, explains the director.
An elderly couple discuss their relationship with Bognor as talks turns to the future of the town.
With concerns about the disproportionate impact of climate change on certain communities weighing heavily on her mind, Baldwin embarked on creating a short film that could address these issues in a more inclusive manner. Recognising that discussions surrounding climate change can be “at worst divisive and at best complex and difficult to engage with”, she aimed to offer a perspective in her film that would resonate with and be accessible to those who are most likely to be affected by these issues.
Admitting that many of the people interviewed for Where the Sun Always Shines felt “locked out of the conversation”, Baldwin hopes that by watching her film it will inspire those who feel similar to engage with the topic and join the fight. “I really hope that this film not only raises awareness of the communities that are at risk of climate disaster and need better investment, but also opens up discussions about how we talk about the crisis”, the director reveals.
After a solid festival run, we’re pleased to host the online premiere of Where the Sun Always Shines on Short of the Week. While festival recognition would have helped to strengthen the reputation of the film, we hope that by sharing the film on our platform it will assist in getting the film in front of those people Baldwin really made it for – those who “will be most affected by climate change”.