FUN WORLD: BBC - The Tower: A Tale of Two Cities (2007) [Completed 08 Episodes]

BBC - The Tower: A Tale of Two Cities (2007)
Language: English
~49 mins per episode | 688 x 384 | PAL (25fps) | DivX 1459kbps | MP3 - 128kbps | 3.61 GB
[b]Genre: Documentary
TheTower, an observational documentary which has been filmed over threeyears, charts the urban regeneration of the notoriously troubled PepysEstate in South London. A property developer is turning a dilapidatedformer council high-rise into luxury riverside apartments and another isbeing demolished and rebuilt for public sector workers. The changes arehappening under the gaze of those still living in the original localauthority houses next door.

The experiences and opinions of thosestill living on the estate, and those moving into the chic new homes,capture a key period of transition in contemporary London. Theglittering tower of Canary Wharf looms large over the riverside locationand the economic ripples it creates, along with a booming economy, havebrought an affluent generation to the neighbourhood in search of viewsof the Thames and an easy commute to the office. Property prices aresimply too high for those who are from the area to buy a house there.

Theseries features poignant portrayals of residents including Leol, aheroin addict, and his friend Nicky, an alcoholic, who met in a skipwhere they were collecting scrap metal to sell; Edith, mother of sixchildren and heavily pregnant, who lives virtually alone in Dickensianconditions amongst rats and burst water pipes in the block to bedemolished; young parents Kelly and Wayne, who are looking forward totheir marriage; and Doug, who runs the local boozer, The John Evelyn.Doug hopes it will attract the fashionable new clientele, but the localsdescribe it as Gods waiting room.

Episode 1 - Five yearsafter Lewisham council sold off one of its riverside tower blocks to betransformed into chic apartments for young professionals, thetransformation of the Tower is due to begin. Before the privatedevelopers can move in, however, all the old tenants must go. LesBrooks, a professional clown, is the last existing occupant in the Towerand hes refusing to go quietly. Elsewhere on the estate, hisneighbours have their own private battles to fight.

Episode 2 -The last tenant has been removed from the ex council tower block. Thedevelopers Berkley homes can now start the renovation. Their marketingdepartment are keen to sell the virtues of riverside living, but on theestate there are others who are desperate to leave. Edith Corlis isexpecting her seventh baby, her block too is due for redevelopment andmost of her neighbours have left. However, she is stuck and thesquatters have moved in and are making her life a misery. AlthoughKelley Garcia, Ediths best friend, has patched up her relationship withWayne they have a more pressing crisis at home with their young sonTyrell. Lol Gilbert has failed to win his girlfriend back and has takenup again with the other love of his life, heroin. Strong language.

Episode3 - Inside the Tower, the interior designers are hard at work creatingthe dream of sky-high modern urban living. While publicans Doug andBrenda Elsley face bankruptcy as their regular customers drift away,successful restauranteur Bambos Manoros has bought two flats. Plus EdithCorlis is ready to move to her new home, but first she has to givebirth to her seventh child.

Episode 4 - With the show flats inthe Tower selling fast, two prospective purchasers are excited by thedream of modern living. However, first they are due to marry and Saimais experiencing some doubts about what married life with Usman willactually be like. Eight-year-old Chantelle is afraid to leave her flatas she tries to come to terms with a dad whos never there. Bambossfamily are not so sure that they want to all live together on a streetin the sky.

Episode 5 - Love is in the air in the Tower and onthe estate. Kelley Garcia finally weds Wayne Tapper, with half of theestate in tow. Newcomers Saima and Usman are now in Pakistan for theirarranged wedding and any room for doubt is rapidly running out. Fordevout Muslim Shakor, life after an arranged marriage means coping with awife and kids and making a life on the estate. However the summer oflove on the estate is abruptly disrupted. The 7/7 bombings send shockwaves through the community.

Episode 6 - Nessars wealthy familyhave bought several new properties in the Tower, but before she can movein she must pass her law exams and win her dream job in the city. Onthe estate, Lol Gilberts health is rapidly deteriorating after years ofheroin abuse. When his close friend Tony overdoses, Lol goes too far,while Tonys grief-stricken mother Cherie tries to repair her life afteryears of heroin abuse in the family.

Episode 7 - The Tower iscomplete and the first of the new tenants move in, including gay coupleDavid and Paul. While Saima and Usman get used to married life, someharsh realities begin to come home to them. Elsewhere, retired gangsterHarry Hayward feels overwhelmed by the changes, and Lol Gilberts druguse continues as his friend Nicky plans his escape.

Episode 8 -The Tower is now fully occupied. For the residents this is a newbeginning, but it is the end of an era for Deptford. The most expensivepenthouse has been bought by 27-year-old millionaire property developerGuy Bullerwell whose company buys up, on average, a house a day in southeast London. The ex-council houses are rented out to youngprofessionals who work across the river in Canary Wharf. Retiredgangster Harry Hayward and his band of Deptford pensioners dontrecognise their part of town now, so with his best friend fighting forhis life in hospital and his funding drying up the future is not brightfor the reformed villain. For Lol Gilbert the prospect of a life oflonely drug abuse without his friend Nicky is finally sinking in. ButNicky has one last surprise for his friend.

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BBC - The Tower: A Tale of Two Cities (2007) [Completed 08 Episodes]