ROCKING THE FOUNDATIONS (1985)
Meet the ordinary workers who saved Sydney from the developers’ wrecking ball. Pat Fiske’s electrifying documentary follows the NSW Builders Labourers Federation – a union that used its collective power to prevent the destruction of Sydney’s historic areas, public parklands and harbour foreshore – defying developers, governments, and the very idea of what a union could be.
Decades on, with equality shrinking and housing affordability in crisis, the dangerous idea at the heart of this film feels urgent again: collective power, wielded boldly, can still change a city. Essential viewing for every Sydney-sider.
With introduction by the film maker.
Directed by Pat Fiske, Australia, 1985, 92 min, PG
Digitally restored by the National Film and Sound Archive
Image: courtesy of Ronin Films
WITH INTRODUCTION BY
Pat Fiske
Pat Fiske OAM, Bower Bird Films, has directed and/or produced many award-winning documentaries and mentored many young filmmakers over the years. In 2001/2002 she was Documentary Consultant at SBS Independent and Co-Head of the documentary department at AFTRS from 2002-2008. Pat was awarded the prestigious Stanley Hawes Award for her outstanding contribution to the documentary industry 2001 and in 2023 was awarded the Order of Australia for her service to the film industry.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
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