Before its demolition in 2016, the Calais Jungle – as it was known by its residents – was home to thousands of refugees and migrants who were hoping to either claim asylum in France or to obtain a passage to the UK. Originally consisting of makeshift tents and lacking basic amenities such as heat and water, the precarious encampment was made more tolerable by the efforts of grassroots activists. Emphasising the lived realities beneath this notorious symbol of the refugee crisis in Europe, Thomas Laurance’s extraordinary documentary observes the cultural vibrancy and solidarity that blossomed on the muddy ground.
While there are glimpses of well-known faces, including actor Juliet Stevenson, the focus here is on ordinary British people who were spurred to action by a shared sense of responsibility. At a time when NGO operations were hampered by red tape, volunteers arrived in Calais with housing materials and other life-saving supplies. They helped the residents to erect more secure housing units, as well as shops, restaurants and even a theatre space. The facilities were rudimentary, yet this work created an environment of normality and community for those whose fundamental rights were being denied by state institutions.
