Heart of the Angel

Heart of the Angel (1989) is a brilliant documentary by (I think genius) Molly Dineen. It takes a good look at those who kept the, then, indescribably decrepit Angel station ticking over – including the indomitable female cleaners (‘fluffers’), ticket officer, lift operator and general manager. No-one would put up with the conditions these guys put up with (nor would the law allow for them), and the scenes make a glaring contrast to those of the recent BBC series exploring the London Underground.

The curmudgeonly ticket officer, who wilfully confuses foreign tourists and ceaselessly complains about his lot turns out to have an engaging optimistic nihilism. One phrase he used when musing on the mystery of life I love, “You are not .You are. You are not.” Put that in your pipe and smoke it.