01
THE STORY
From Karen Newman, Producer of 'Just Charlie' winner of the Audience Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Jane Gull, Director of 'My Feral Heart,' the UK's most successful 'cinema-on-demand' film of all time, Hidden Door Productions proudly presents their new drama, 'Love Without Walls'
Sophie and Paul (an aspiring musician) can't pay their London rent and turn to friends and family for support. Over the course of a summer, things go from bad to worse: The couple lose everything and find themselves lost in the underbelly of life on the streets. Though frustrated, their good humour and positivity land them odd jobs and a temporary shelter. A story of love, hope, and survival in the darkest of times.
Love Without Walls is a drama romance featuring a backdrop of blistering, original music primarily written and performed by singer/songwriter and lead actor Niall McNamee. Think 'True Romance' meets 'I Daniel Blake.'
At the time of writing, more than 70,000 households have been made homeless since the pandemic, with numbers continuing to rise at an alarming rate. While this is not a film about Covid-19, it is a film relevant to what we are going through as a society in the aftermath of the pandemic.
It is a story of love, hope, and survival in the darkest times.
02
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Many people who become homeless do not show up in the official figures. This includes people who become homeless but find a temporary solution by staying with family members or friends, otherwise known as 'sofa surfing,' or living in squats or other insecure accommodations. This is referred to as 'hidden homelessness. Research by the charity Crisis indicates that about 62% of single homeless people are hidden and may not show up in official figures.
I’ve worked on art projects with people who are homeless and spent a couple of years sofa surfing myself. Love Without Walls is a fictional love story set between London and Southend-On-Sea. It's inspired by some of my own experiences and the lives of people I have met.
The film is truthful, powerful, and character-driven, putting faces to the statistics. The film's tone is pretty dark, but it is peppered with moments of light relief. My vision is to find the brightness in the darkest places and tease out the humour and humanity of this young couple. It's a story of love, loss, and survival with an underlying theme of hope.
Original songs are performed and recorded live to create the energy and sound of the live performance. All other music is diegetic - coming from the radio, iPhone, etc.
