Iain Sinclair walks ‘ginger line’ in film adaptation of London Overground

Walking the line: Iain Sinclair (left) surveys London

London’s itinerant seer Iain Sinclair, famed for his documented walks around the city, has set out again to trek around the ‘ginger line’ for a filmed adaptation of his latest book, London Overground.

Directed by John Rogers, the film takes place over the course of the year, rather than a single day. It follows Sinclair as he follows the railway tracks on foot from his home in Haggerston, visiting 33 stations in a 35 mile round trip.

Film-maker Andrew Kötting, who walked him when he first made the 15 hour journey, joins him in Rotherhithe, and they make their way together through Canada Water, Surrey Quays to Queens Road Peckham.

At Willesden Junction he is met by film-maker and author Chris Petit, and in Dalston local campaigner Bill Parry-Davies, who composed some of the film’s score, joins him to survey what has changed as the area has been redeveloped.

Sinclair dubbed the Overground the ‘ginger line’ after he heard the moniker from some costumed art students in New Cross, who make an appearance in the film too.

He describes it as the “spin-drier of capitalism whirling bank notes around the city – a real moment to look at this city of unreal money” where a new city is emerging.

The film offers a “snapshot of the city in transition and a unique insight into the most important chronicler of contemporary London.”

The film will premiere as part of the East End Film Festival. The screening will take place at the Rio Cinema in Dalston on Saturday 2 July and a Q&A with Iain Sinclair and John Rogers will be held afterwards.