A Beautiful Way To Live

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

A Beautiful Way To Live


Novelist Cressida Lindsay and Commune Movement pioneer Sarah Eno feature in this Anglia TV documentary about life in a commune.

In 1971, Anglia Television visits two communes that are prospering in Norfolk. The first, is a gathering of artists who live at a former school – the Crow Hall Commune in Downham Market. The second commune visited at The Old Rectory Farm, Scoulton, near Watton where artist and novelist Cressida Lindsay lives with her five children and fellow artists.

This documentary explores why people choose to live in these so-called alternative communities. Is it the desire to escape from the pressures and materialistic nature of twentieth century life? Is it just romantic idealism. Are there any problems with living in large groups? Both communes are part of the Commune Movement established in 1965. In 1971, the Movement is run from a vegetarian restaurant, Arjuna, in Cambridge. Anglia TV interviews Sarah Eno, the Movement's first secretary. Sarah Eno was at the time married to ambient music pioneer Brian Eno.


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