Film phase:Completed
SYNOPSIS
Kingdom of Us is a film about memory, identity, and growing up told through the eyes of seven siblings and their mother. Five of the children are on the autistic spectrum and as they move through adolescence, an event of the past keeps drawing them back. Combining observational footage with a rich archive of home movies and songs, the film is both a detective story and coming-of-age tale, exploring universal themes of memory, family, and love.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Lucy Cohen has worked in documentary filmmaking for more than 14 years after initially training as a print journalist. Directing principally for television in the UK, previous credits include Watch Me Disappear (Channel 4) and Modern Times: The Great British Garden Watch (BBC2). She also produced the critically acclaimed Notes from the Inside (Channel 4) and Sectioned (BBC4). After working with Pulse Films on the theatrical documentary, The Possibilities are Endless, she has now completed her first feature-length documentary. Made with the support of the BFI, Creative England, Chicken and Egg Pictures, Tribeca Film Institute and the Sundance Institute, Kingdom of Us was launched on Netflix in October 2017.
Whilst observational documentary is her passion, Lucy likes to experiment with different formats and textures to explore the psychological layers within stories and create stylistically interesting work. Alongside her long-form work, she has made short films for various charities, artists and institutions.
Next, she aims to draw on the skills and ideas she has developed making documentaries and use them within a narrative project.
NOW PLAYING
Kingdom of Us premiered at London Film Festival and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary. It was released on Netflix on October 13, 2017 and has been nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.