Birmingham Made Me

Rinkoo Barpaga is a multi-disciplined performer making a name for himself on the comedy circuit. But as a Deaf Asian man, his journey to success hasn’t been easy and he’s had more than his fair share of struggles. In this revealing film Rinkoo shares both the ups and downs of growing up in Birmingham through a mix of live comedy and reflective moments on the streets of the city he calls home.

Without a BSL Interpreter present, Rinkoo has felt that communication with local people can sometimes be strained and uncomfortable. An everyday experience for deaf people is the feeling of being ignored in public, yet Rinkoo – now adding street photography to his creative output – shows just how powerful the camera can be towards creating a unifying dynamic between people of all ages and all walks of life. Nobody can ignore you when you’re snapping on the streets! Interspersing observational comedy with fly-on-the-wall style documentary filmmaking, Rinkoo challenges hearing locals to overcome their initial discomfort and succumb to his lens. Taking the power through his camera back in his hands, Rinkoo walks the streets, meeting locals from all different backgrounds to discover where he belongs.

Presented and Directed by Rinkoo Barpaga