The Close

The Close tells the story of the first archaeological excavation of a historic Romany site to take place in Britain. The film follows archaeologist John-Henry Phillips, himself Romany and co-founder of Romani Community Archaeology, as he works alongside descendants of those once confined there to uncover the remains of long-forgotten government-run “Gypsy Compounds” and a “Gypsy Rehabilitation Centre” hidden in the New Forest. Operating from 1926 until 1979, these institutions were designed to enforce assimilation and cultural genocide. Set against a backdrop of five centuries of anti-Romany legislation, the excavation becomes more than a search for traces in the soil - it is an act of remembrance and resistance, empowering Romany communities to reclaim their history, confront legacies of persecution that endure today, and challenge systemic narratives for a better future.

PRESENTED BY JOHN-HENRY PHILLIPS; EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GRANT BLACK; DIRECTOR DAN HAWORTH-SALTER; PRODUCERS DAN HAWORTH-SALTER / JOHN-HENRY PHILLIPS / DR STUART EVE; DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY LUKE COLLINS