Handled with care

Producer/Director -

James Sandy

James was working as an Assistant Producer at the BBC when he heard Stone Flowers perform in London.
He immediately contacted Lis Murphy at Music Action International, to ask about making a documentary with the group.

That process started with several non-filming trips, to give the band members an opportunity to meet James and ask him questions before agreeing to take part in the project.

Over the next four years, James returned to Manchester to capture key moments of the group’s development - from writing and rehearsing new music, to recording their second album, and performing concerts around the country.

In that time, a few of the Stone Flowers felt they could share their stories with James through a series of interviews. He heard how some had had to leave their families behind to escape certain death, and how others had been detained and traumatised since arriving in the UK.
Many felt powerless and hopeless in their day-to-day lives, but all felt the music they were making with Stone Flowers gave them a way to take action.

It took James another four years to weave the music and interviews together in a way that truly represented not only the group’s circumstances, but also their character and their voice - victims of trauma, but also agents of empowerment.

James self-funded the project. He filmed and edited it himself: only occasionally asking favours from friends and colleagues to help with multi-camera shoots, like live events and music videos.

At all times he worked closely with Music Action International, and with Stone Flowers themselves, to ensure all participants in the film were protected from the possibility of reprisals, either in the UK or in their country of origin. That caution limited opportunities for editorial support and funding, but ensured the safety of those who were brave enough to share their stories.