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

The Collector is an ongoing portrait of Christian, a lifetime collector who has “worked” the streets of his local town in Provence for the last 30 years. Every night, from midnight till dawn he makes a careful circuit of the town’s dustbins and picks up things he considers useful. These are added to his ever-burgeoning collection which now fills the three plots of land he inherited from his grandparents.

The second part of the film revisits Christian after 3 years to find him adapting to new restrictions imposed by his nemesis, the town’s mayor.

The film was made with the photographer Leonie Purchas.

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.

Could post-natal depression be the reason software expert David nearly gave up on his family? Or was he just working too hard?