Harriet, Les Misérables and social realist films, risk in publishing, street art

The story of the slave abolitionist Harriet Tubman has finally made it to the big screen where she is played by Cynthia Erivo. Gaylene Gould reviews.

After France’s President Macron was reportedly “shaken by the accuracy” of new French film Les Misérables, depicting life today in the deprived outer suburbs of Paris, French critic Agnès Poirier joins us to discuss modern attitudes toward social realist cinema in the UK, France and elsewhere.

The Christmas sales are the most important time in the publishing industry as sees a number of companies go from the red into the black. As they continue their reflections on how the book industry operates, literary agent Clare Alexander and publisher John Mitchinson consider the nature of risk, and whether it pays to be one of the big conglomerates or a small independent outfit.

And Jonathan Moberly explains how the Weavers Community Action Group commissioned street artists — calling themselves the Columbia Road Cartel — to combat drug dealing in their local area.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Hilary Dunn