As part of Industrial Epic: Working Landscapes from the AmberSide Collection, Refractive Scotland presents two films from the Amber archive exploring industrial work, the communities built around it and the consequences of its disappearance.

Made twelve years apart, High Row (1973) and Seacoal (1985) document two very different communities making their living from coal. From a small drift mine in the Pennines to the blackened beaches of Northumberland, both films examine work beyond the structures of large-scale industry, where independence comes at the cost of physical hardship and economic uncertainty. Together, they offer an insight into Amber's collaborative approach to filmmaking, working alongside communities to represent their lives on their own terms.

About the films:

High Row, 1973

A documentary reconstruction of a working day at a small drift mine near Alston, Cumbria, operated by seven men who had exchanged better-paid jobs for greater independence. When the miners rejected Amber's original script as unrealistic, the filmmakers worked with them to develop a new version based on their experiences. Performed by the miners themselves, the film uses little dialogue and no narration, capturing the rhythms of physical labour and the men's relationship with their working environment.

Seacoal, 1985

Amber's first feature-length drama, blending fiction and documentary to explore the lives of people collecting waste coal washed ashore at Lynemouth Beach in Northumberland. Developed over two years living and working alongside the seacoalers, the film follows Betty and her daughter as they enter a community surviving on the margins of the industrial economy. Combining professional actors with local people, "Seacoal" examines the precarious nature of independent work, exploitation and the struggle to make a living.

About Refractive

Refractive Collective is an independent, artist-led collective of filmmakers and digital artists based in Paisley, Scotland.

It supports and presents artists working with film and digital technology across Renfrewshire and the surrounding area, from young people starting out to established freelancers and internationally recognised practitioners. Refractive creates opportunities for artists to experiment, present work in different contexts and connect with wider audiences.

The collective works to strengthen film and digital arts in the west of Scotland, making visible the range of creative practice being produced there and exploring how contemporary art can contribute to a fairer society.