Wednesday, February 04, 2026

Living the high life

Faced with the threat of eviction from our homes, most of us would put up a fight - but not many would decide to stage a remarkable rooftop protest. But then Rick Canty was clearly made of tougher stuff.

Isaac Atkin-Mayne's short Rick On The Roof tells the extraordinary tale of how Canty spent three years living in a tent on top of the house he had been turfed out of, becoming a local legend in his home town of Barry. As the film underlines, what started out as one man's personal crusade gradually became a cause celebre, with the community rallying around in support.

Ultimately, though, it's a sad story, with the protest coming to a painful end and memories of that community spirit now fading in a town harmed - like so many others - by austerity politics.

Credit to Short Of The Week for platforming the film. The website looks like a treasure trove ripe for exploration.

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