
White Riot
Directed by Rubika Shah
2019Documentary80 minUnited Kingdom
How a group of young creatives launched Rock Against Racism, uniting The Clash, Steel Pulse and a generation of fans against the far right in 1970s Britain.
Synopsis
Flooded with responses, Red discovers many share his views. Teaming up with like-minded creatives Roger Huddle, Kate Webb, Syd Shelton and Australian graphic designer Ruth Gregory, the team bands together to create Rock Against Racism (RAR) and a fanzine, Temporary Hoarding. Speaking directly to the youth, Temporary Hoarding reports stories and issues that the mainstream British media ignores, like immigration, the Catholic side of the Northern Ireland conflict, and the police’s controversial “suspected persons” (sus) powers. They give a voice to the voiceless. The National Front begins to strike back, committing acts of violence against RAR supporters and petrol-bombing their HQ. Despite this, RAR spreads virally across the UK and into Europe, becoming a grassroots youth movement. The Clash, Steel Pulse, Tom Robinson and other top bands of the day jump on board.
The director
Rubika Shah
Rubika Shah is a British director whose White Riot (2019), about the Rock Against Racism movement, won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary at the BFI London Film Festival. It also received a special mention for the Berlinale Documentary Award.
















