Why you should watch Steve McQueen's short film 'Grenfell'
Artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen has made artwork in response to the Grenfell fire tragedy in 2017.
It’s hard to put into words how I felt after watching Steve McQueen’s new short film, Grenfell.
This short film is not what you expect, it isn’t your traditional documentary. It is a powerful showcase of the aftermath of Grenfell, filmed straight from a helicopter.
This film is 2 separate clips and was recorded during the hours of 1:30pm and 6pm to avoid the morning congestion, memorial services and to avoid disruption to residents.
72 people died as a result of this fire back in June 2017. This film was shot in December 2017, just months after the fire.
Steve McQueen has taken an artistic approach to this film, rather than your traditional journalistic approach, something which makes this work even more powerful.
The aim of this work was nothing more than creating a lasting memorial to the tragedy. There isn’t any narrative, characters or dramatisation - just the aftermath of Grenfell before it was covered up.
There are no stats. There isn’t any information provided. The video speaks for itself.
From an Ariel panning shot across London, in the background hearing the sounds of daily commuters, emergency vehicles, trains and even the wind, to approaching the Grenfell tower block with the noise fading out. Silence.
The entire time we are shown the aftermath of Grenfell, there isn’t a single sound. It offers moments of reflection for the viewer, and mourning for all of those lives lost.
The camera angles offer something you wouldn’t expect to see - closeup shots of the burnt out windows, allowing you to peek inside the damaged flats. You can see bagged up rubble, complete destruction and then the scaffolding poles in place to keep everything secured. This is a completely new closeup look of the true aftermath of this fire, one that shows how there was no escape.
Watching this film really makes you think about this tragedy. It makes you think about the lives lost, and it makes you think that still to this day, no accountability has been claimed.
There is an ongoing criminal investigation and one of the potential charges could be corporate manslaughter. No trials are expected to take place until 2028 at the earliest, 11 years after this tragedy.
“The loss of seventy-two irreplaceable human beings as a result of fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017 was a horrible crime. Those needless deaths have had incalculable consequences for their families and friends, the survivors and the embattled local community, for the emergency workers on duty that night and for this ailing city.” Paul Gilroy
The Grenfell fire was a complete tragedy - one that should never happen again. However, the shocking reality is, that something similar could happen again as the resulting recommendations from the inquiry launched by the government at the time are yet to be implemented.
Steve McQueen has made sure at every opportunity to honour the lives lost. After the viewing of the film, you are lead round to a reading room which offers books relating too Grenfell and the UK housing crisis, as well as a wall with the name of each person who lost their life in the fire.
Small booklets are also offered with information about this film, where it is going to be shown and again, a list of names who lost their life to this tragedy.
‘Grenfell’ was first shown in 2023 in London, after a series of private viewings for the bereaved families and survivors. Following this, the work was placed in the care of Tate London and the London Museum’s collections.
It is clear that lessons are still to be learned from this tragedy. This film has the ability to raise awareness to these lessons, and show the true effects of Grenfell. Hopefully things can change so this doesn't happen again - nobody deserves that.
‘Grenfell’ is currently being shown at The Bluecoat in Liverpool until 21st June 2026. Details of other viewings can be found here.