The Banana Republic

#BananaFlats #Leith #Scotland
Built in 1962 as an answer to local overcrowding and slum conditions in tenements, Leith’s Cables Wynd housing estate, known locally as the Banana Flats, became notorious as the crime-ridden center of Europe’s heroin epidemic in the 1980s. In 2015, it sits down the street from two Michelin starred restaurants. The film follows a local photographer and former resident who is embarking on a quest to document the triumphs and tragedies that exist inside each of the estate’s 204 flats.
DIRECTOR: Scott Calonico
PRODUCER:
Lindsay Goodall
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
Sonja Henrici, Noe Mendelle
DOP: George Cameron Geddes
EDITOR: Anthea Harvey
MUSIC/SOUND DESIGN: Ali Murray
WORLD PREMIERE - Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015
Screenings:
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Film Festival Stranrear 2015 (UK)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Inverness Film Festival 2015 (UK)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - London Short Film Festival 2016 (UK)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Thessaloniki Doc Market 2016 (Greece)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh - Architecture Season 2016 (UK)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Open City Documentary Film Festival 2016 (UK)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Cinetekton! Int Fest of Cinema and Architecture 2016 (Mexico)
scottishdocinstitute.com/films...
scottcalonico.com

[@darnick54]

I recall playing on the site when they were being built. A landmark in Leith for nearly 60 years, thanks for this.

[@havennewbowtow8835]

Grew up across the road in Sheriff Brae. Played as a bairn on the site when the flats got built. One of my uncles, Jimmy Strachan had a flat in the building. They were very desirable council houses in the day.

[@frasemci]

What a great film, informative and shot with compassion. Nice one.

[@ThisisthePresident]

Thanks Fraser. Used to live right down the street from the Flats.

[@rsreset3236]

Just spent three weeks in there! Best time ever!!!

[@keithpringle3940]

Decent wee doc, mebbes a part 2 in the future? Leith in general would be a good watch!

[@jimsteele1272]

V interesting. Thanks

[@leewightman9776]

Thats where renton and sick boy had there first hit...love that block a few memories there

[@ThisisthePresident]

They filmed a bit of Transpotting 2 inside the Estate.

[@billbansheeedinburgh1172]

I worked in the Bru in the late 80d and 90s. These like loads of Leith gripped by drugs. Needle bins outside. I still wander about Leith remembering the good old bad old days. I was born in Leith and it's not the same, I did prefer the 80/90s. One thing that's no changed.I never been in The Banana Flats

[@carolinegray3150]

Nice views

[@duncanmurphy9762]

Very admirable people.

[@theblindfoldep]

A curved version of Le Corbusier's Unite d'Habitation. Beautiful building and great bit of film. Hope it doesn't get demolished as people are happy there.

[@stewiezjonder3924]

Blindfold beautiful building? It's painful to look at...Brutalist's monstrosity

[@jamesveitch2798]

I can't believe the council ownership. That's crazy.
The was a good fit though folks, and those photos at the end are amazing. Good work.

[@ThisisthePresident]

Thanks, james!

[@casskop]

I remember the banana flats well from my time living in leith in 2001 they'll probably be flats for executives in another 20 years. I'm a lancastrian but I miss that town

[@Girl-101]

Omg it’s mad to think that I’ve got various acquaintances that live in the banana flats, although I typically didn’t see any of them in this upload 🤨

[@ThisisthePresident]

Yeah - we only had 10 minutes. Thanks for watching!

[@kiaraxx2075]

I’ve just came to this video since my nana lives here and the cat is my nanas 😭🤚

[@ThisisthePresident]

Alright! What floor is she on?

[@lucatellidecoco6629]

Muy bueno

[@ThisisthePresident]

de nada...

[@rosskelly3244]

I used to live in lieth myself at great junction street and all I can say as there all very nice people yeah Uv got ure drugs and stuff but every were has that’s were I used to score my gear out of the bananaha flats I think everyone did😂

[@horseon4730]

Sum buildin, i worked in dunedin harbour hostel across the rd fi the bananas gets mental and in the hostel

[@ThisisthePresident]

Yeah - I lived right down the Shore - in the same building as King's Wark. Thanks for watching.

[@andrewadamson185]

Just run 7,1 miles a day walking time for walki I see people on civilian street it's crazy pSD

[@GeorgeReilly-eu1kt]

They flats have all wis been a state drug day in day out shame.lot of nice people in them

[@davidlloyd2225]

2:02 come clean mine😁❤️🇬🇧💯 2:12

[@paulmanders1520]

Fae leith spend every day in thay flats.cable wind

[@lloydhinshelwood]

Why is there subtitles 😂

[@peter1616]

I Ken folk who live there

[@robertallan4916]

We Leithers can also make good music: th-cam.com/video/Q8YnaKh-0hI/w-d-xo.html

[@davidlloyd2225]

0:51 guess whos bak❤️🇬🇧💯 1:00

[@KennyGiven]

Leith is becoming like Albania

[@ThisisthePresident]

Was worried that the Malt and Hops was gone but I was just looking at Google Maps wrong. Forgot there was a Pizza Express right there on the shore.

[@jimmydickson8854]

The banana republic flats ,to me that’s a bit insulting and faceshus

[@ThisisthePresident]

That's what the residents themselves call it, Mr. Dickson. Thanks for watching.

[@wavell14]

Faceshus 😂

[@scottwhitley3392]

Faceshus 😭😭