REFUGE
Story
In the early seventies petrol costs 35p a gallon, Ted Heath is Prime Minister, and London is in the midst of a hippie revolution. Against this backdrop, a new women’s community centre in Chiswick opens its doors, led by the charismatic Erin Pizzey. Soon after, mothers and children who have suffered violent abuse begin arriving in search of safety.
What begins as a trickle becomes a flood, and the world’s first refuge for battered women and children is born. With the support of Anne Ashby, a single mother she befriends in the local park, Erin begins a long and controversial struggle against the police, the press, and the legal system to establish safe houses.
Chiswick Women’s Aid becomes a cause célèbre, facing fierce criticism, violent threats, and devastating tragedies. Yet through their relentless courage, Erin and Anne sparked a movement that changed Britain forever. Thousands of women and children escaped violence and rebuilt their lives thanks to their work. That legacy continues to this day.
Music
The film features an original soundtrack led by acclaimed Nottingham artist Scorzayzee, supported by legendary music consultant Trevor Rose, who has worked with BBC, MTV, and The Royal Foundation.
Comparable Films
Belfast – Budget £8–12m / Box Office £39m
I, Daniel Blake – Budget £3.5m / Box Office £12.5m
In the Name of the Father – Budget £10.3m / Box Office £52.12m
Vera Drake – Budget £8.71m / Box Office £10.3m
In the early seventies petrol costs 35p a gallon, Ted Heath is Prime Minister, and London is in the midst of a hippie revolution. Against this backdrop, a new women’s community centre in Chiswick opens its doors, led by the charismatic Erin Pizzey. Soon after, mothers and children who have suffered violent abuse begin arriving in search of safety.
What begins as a trickle becomes a flood, and the world’s first refuge for battered women and children is born. With the support of Anne Ashby, a single mother she befriends in the local park, Erin begins a long and controversial struggle against the police, the press, and the legal system to establish safe houses.
Chiswick Women’s Aid becomes a cause célèbre, facing fierce criticism, violent threats, and devastating tragedies. Yet through their relentless courage, Erin and Anne sparked a movement that changed Britain forever. Thousands of women and children escaped violence and rebuilt their lives thanks to their work. That legacy continues to this day.
Music
The film features an original soundtrack led by acclaimed Nottingham artist Scorzayzee, supported by legendary music consultant Trevor Rose, who has worked with BBC, MTV, and The Royal Foundation.
Comparable Films
Belfast – Budget £8–12m / Box Office £39m
I, Daniel Blake – Budget £3.5m / Box Office £12.5m
In the Name of the Father – Budget £10.3m / Box Office £52.12m
Vera Drake – Budget £8.71m / Box Office £10.3m
