See possessed.me.uk to learn more, see extra material, or buy on DVD.

'POSSESSED' enters the complicated worlds of four hoarders; people whose lives are dominated by their relationship to possessions. The film questions whether hoarding is a symptom of mental illness or a revolt against the material recklessness of consumerism. When does collecting become hoarding and why do possessions exert such an influence on our lives?

Made during a Visual Anthropology Masters at Goldsmiths College London last year. Winner of the Silver Egg at Emir Kusturica's Kustendorf Film Festival, 2008 and Winner at BLIFF 2008, (Banja Luka International Film Festival bliff.net ).

It plays best on Full Screen with HD on and scaling off. If its still jerky, switch HD off.

This is a very common and growing problem. If you know anyone who is clearly a hoarder, please try to show them this film. I would be very interested to know how they respond. A feature of the disorder is that people often deny there is a problem. When they finally do realise they are in trouble they tend to think they have a unique problem which leads to a feeling of shame, isolation and despair. It's a very complex problem without a quick fix, but with care and understanding it is possible to get on top of it. I've seen it done.

For more info on Hoarding go to
possessed.me.uk
ocfoundation.org
ocdaction.org.uk/ocdaction/index.asp?id=429
squalorsurvivors.com/index.shtml
childrenofhoarders.com/forum/index.php
mha-sf.org/programs/ichc.cfm

I am now researching the next stage of the project. I am trying to compile a collection of peoples experiences of OCD and other anxiety based disorders. I have found from experience that although symptoms might be similar, the actual particularities of the obsessions and compulsions are often very varied.

I would be very grateful to hear of your or any friend/acquaintances experiences/difficulties.

If you wish to purchase a DVD of the film go to possessed.me.uk or contact me directly

See THE COLLECTOR (PART 2) here: vimeo.com/8496316

IN ENGLISH BELOW

****IMPORTANT***

Christian a été emmenée de force dans un hôpital psychiatrique à Montélimar le 20 Octobre 2009 après que le Maire et sa «Tutelle» a décidé qu'il ne pouvait plus vivre à son domicile. Il y avait une pétition signée par 300 personnes de sa ville natale de Buis les Baronnies en Provence, que demandait que Christian soit liberé. Il a finalement été décidé Christian doit avoir une place en maison de retraite de la ville. Toutefois, après avoir attendu pendant plus de 2 mois à l'hôpital, au cours de laquelle il est devenu de plus en plus déprimé, le 30 Décembre 2009 Christian a eu une crise cardiaque massive et est mort dans le bureau de l'hôpital.

J'espère que le maire de Buis les Baronnies et sa tutelle, une association en Valence pouvent expliquent pourquoi il devrait passer si longtemps dans un hôpital psychiatrique.

See THE COLLECTOR (PART 2) here: vimeo.com/8496316

ENGLISH:

CHRISTIAN GUIENNE, REST IN PEACE.

Christian lived in a small town in Provence. For 50 years he had been collecting things that have been thrown out by the people town's inhabitants. The Mayor tried to ban him from collecting, but Christian continued to work at night to evade detection.

On October 2009 Christian was forcibly taken to a psychiatric hospital in Montelimar after the Mayor and his legal guardian or 'tutelle' decided he could no cope with living alone in his home. A petition circulated in his home town of Buis les Baronnies in Provence demanding that he be allowed to return to be looked after within his own community. Eventually it was decided that Christian should be given a place in his town's retirement home. However, after waiting for over 2 months in the hospital, during which time he became progressively more depressed, on 30 December 2009 Christian suffered a massive heart attack and died in the office of the hospital. For more information see here: fatratas.net/entrez-chez/christian-g/

Christian despaired at the wastage of modern life and worked 365 days a year to salvage the things he believed were still useful, storing his finds at his home and on inherited land, occasionally selling or giving them on to his 'clients'. This enormous collection of fridges, televisions, toys, shoes, books etc... represents a remarkable material history of the town's consumer habits, and I consider it to be an outstanding artwork. Should you wish to visit them, the collections are here:

maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Buis-les-Baronnies,+France&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=21.876469,51.196289&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Buis-les-Baronnies,+Dr%C3%B4me,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+France&ll=44.280066,5.290732&spn=0.003222,0.00625&t=h&z=18

and here:
maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Buis-les-Baronnies,+France&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=21.876469,51.196289&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Buis-les-Baronnies,+Dr%C3%B4me,+Rh%C3%B4ne-Alpes,+France&ll=44.288465,5.279231&spn=0.003222,0.00625&t=k&z=18

I hope that the mayor of Buis les Baronnies and his Tutelle, an Association in Valence are made to explain why he felt so persecuted, and why it was necessary for him to spend so long in a psychiatric hospital.

The film was made with the photographer Leonie Purchas.

See THE COLLECTOR (PART 2) here: vimeo.com/8496316

See photographs of Christian and his collection by Leonie Purchas here:
leoniepurchas.com/home/stories/020210/christian---the-collector/

CHRISTIAN Guyenne, REST IN PEACE.

Christian lived in a small town in Provence. For 50 years he had been collecting things that have been thrown out by the people town's inhabitants. The Mayor tried to ban him from collecting, but Christian continued to work at night to evade detection.

On October 2009 Christian was forcibly taken to a psychiatric hospital in Montelimar after the Mayor and his legal guardian or 'tutelle' decided he could no cope with living alone in his home. A petition circulated in his home town of Buis les Baronnies in Provence demanding that he be allowed to return to be looked after within his own community. Eventually it was decided that Christian should be given a place in his town's retirement home. However, after waiting for over 2 months in the hospital, during which time he became progressively more depressed, on 30 December 2009 Christian suffered a massive heart attack and died in the office of the hospital.

Christian despaired at the wastage of modern life and worked 365 days a year to salvage the things he believed were still useful, storing his finds at his home and on inherited land, occasionally selling or giving them on to his 'clients'. This enormous collection of fridges, televisions, toys, shoes, books etc... represents a remarkable material history of the town's consumer habits, and I consider it to be an outstanding artwork.

For more information see fatratas.net/entrez-chez/christian-g/

See THE COLLECTOR (PART 1) here: vimeo.com/666346

FRANCAIS:

Christian a été emmenée de force dans un hôpital psychiatrique à Montélimar le 20 Octobre 2009 après que le Maire et sa «Tutelle» a décidé qu'il ne pouvait plus vivre à son domicile. Il y avait une pétition signée par 300 personnes de sa ville natale de Buis les Baronnies en Provence, que demandait que Christian soit liberé. Il a finalement été décidé Christian doit avoir une place en maison de retraite de la ville. Toutefois, après avoir attendu pendant plus de 2 mois à l'hôpital, au cours de laquelle il est devenu de plus en plus déprimé, le 30 Décembre 2009 Christian a eu une crise cardiaque massive et est mort dans le bureau de l'hôpital.

J'espère que le maire de Buis les Baronnies et sa tutelle, une association en Valence pouvent expliquent pourquoi il devrait passer si longtemps dans un hôpital psychiatrique.

For more information see fatratas.net/entrez-chez/christian-g/

See THE COLLECTOR (PART 1) here: vimeo.com/666346

Ellie, age 2, drifts through the long nursery days, resolutely different from the crowd.

Vikki applies all the HR tricks she’s learnt at work to running her hyperactive household, never wasting a second.