PHD RESEARCH

All characters and events depicted in the film are fictitious: 

the places are real. 

 

An exploration of Yesterday’s (2019) depiction of Lowestoft, and the extent to which it reflects the local perception of their place identity and sense of place

 

My research aims to better understand the relationship between place identity, sense of place, and their depiction in film by examining material and immaterial representations of place and their meanings within an imagined geography, through constructed film representations interpreted by local communities.

 

Filmed on location, Yesterday's portrayal of Lowestoft offers valuable insights into the meanings filmmakers construct and local communities experience. Local communities recognised easily identifiable film locations, creating positive emotional attachments to the area; however, some residents were disappointed by the conflation of distinct towns.  Local communities, stakeholders, and the filmmakers collaborated, with local schools benefiting from the filmmaking experience; however, the film industry's precarious nature could limit future opportunities.

 

The findings uncover local material and immaterial legacies of the film that help shape place within Suffolk's cultural landscape. Reflecting on participants' and researchers’ positionality throughout the research identifies power dynamics through an intersectional lens. This study contributes to a growing body of film geography research, framed within a representational approach and as a social practice of location filming within popular culture. The findings demonstrate a nuanced understanding of how representations of place are both created and interpreted through interconnected relationships of location filming, local communities, and filmmakers.

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Understanding how place identity and sense of place in film are represented and embodied through the lived experience of local communities, stakeholders, and filmmakers is critical for exploring the meanings of place in film. Bringing together and representing diverse voices and perspectives may seem idealistic; however, valuing popular culture underscores the need to recognise its power. This power—the power to represent and value diverse voices—fosters a deeper understanding of the places we live, work, and play.