Description: The film documents the “Reclaim the streets” protest of July the 13th, 1996, M41 Motorway, Shepherd's Bush (now the West Cross Route). This was one of 24 protests that took place across the UK, part of the anti-car movement supporting alternative forms of transport, which used street parties as political protest

First shots show the gathering at the starting-point of the protest, at Liverpool Street Station. Hundreds of participants present excitement and anticipation, throwing paper in the air. Throughout the film, we see close-ups of unimpressed policemen, line of officers blocking the road, and a large number of police vans and even a helicopter. There is evidence of some police confrontation with young protesters, as they try to move wood and pipes from roadworks.

Still, the film shows a huge turn out with hundreds of people walking down the M41. The scene looks like a carnival, people in fancy dress and painted faces, mariantoinette dress-float, people playing drums and violins on the grass, heads bobbing and dancing in the streets and on top of cars, throwing ribbons in the air, etc. People smiling and seem to be enjoying themselves.

There are shots of people climbing polls to fasten banners across the motorway, one of which reads, “Reclaim the Streets” in colourful writing. Protesters hold a variety of signs, such as “Temporary Closure for Street Festival”, “Fight Back”, “Give a hoot, take a bus”, or “Cars make me sick”, all of which encapsulate the motive of the protest. Towards the end, we see protesters painting the road with sentences such as “Road Rave”. People walking around grass-areas in bare feet, blowing bubbles, emphasising the freedom and hippy-vibe.

The crowd is mostly young, but still diverse. We see a baby wearing a bandanna dancing on someone’s shoulders, elderly people walking through the crowds, and children playing in a sandpit created on the road. The whole film reflects a strong sense of community but also discontent. With a massive turnout of over 6000 people, this echoes the growing environmental-concern of UK society, united to state opposition towards a car-dominated transport.