- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
-
4 out of 5
It was almost inevitable that comparisons would be made between this Yorkshire-set drama and The Full Monty. But, whereas The Full Monty was an unashamedly feel-good movie, this is a much less cosy affair, in which the future of an entire community is at stake. There's a certain Ealing-like quality in the way the mining town of Grimley rallies around the colliery's brass band as it progresses to the national finals amid talk of pit closures and redundancies. But there's no coy comedy here. The humour is acerbic and near the knuckle. Also missing is the Capra-esque last act in which the everyday folk triumph over adversity. Instead, there's only the promise of more struggle and the grim realisation that a way of life has gone for ever. The edgy pace writer/director Mark Herman brings to the drama and his presentation of the musical sequences can't be faulted, and he draws remarkable performances from a cast that includes Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite.
Plot Summary
Drama starring Pete Postlethwaite, Tara FitzGerald and Ewan McGregor. Yorkshire, 1992: a colliery band struggles to survive in the face of the Conservative government's proposed pit closures. Spirits are revived, however, when the granddaughter of a former band leader returns to the village to start a new job.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Danny
- Pete Postlethwaite
- Gloria
- Tara FitzGerald
- Andy
- Ewan McGregor
- Phil
- Stephen Tompkinson
- Harry
- Jim Carter
- Greasley
- Kenneth Colley
- Simmo
- Peter Gunn
- Ida
- Mary Healey
- Sandra
- Melanie Hill
- Jim
- Philip Jackson
- Vera
- Sue Johnston
Crew
- Director
- Mark Herman
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