All aboard: why the houseboat is making waves on the big screen

As living on the water increases in popularity, movies have seized on this unconventional way of life to make a point about freedom and choices

The houseboat seems like an artefact that’s as British as tea and crumpets – a colourful, quaint behemoth ploughing through the sludgy waters of the country’s canals and waterways. In a turbulent housing market, more people are now turning to “continuous cruising” as a viable way of living – especially in the capital. According to the Canal & River Trust, there are more than 34,000 licensed boats in the UK today, with more than a third of owners saying their boat’s primary purpose was as a full-time residence or second home.

British cinema has embraced the houseboat and its symbolic value, in conjunction with its surge in real-world popularity. This year, a handful of movies have used this unconventional way of life as part of a character’s story – and to make a point about contemporary society.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2zAa2RH

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