Films set in coalmining communities;
'Young Hearts Run Free' a coming-of-age story set during the 1974 strike. BUY DVD 'Billy Elliot' -great film about a young boy who discovers he wants to be a ballet dancer but his progress is hindered by the turmoil of the 1984-85 strike. The intensity of the strike is keenly portrayed. It even spurned a stage musical which has even more politics including the ironic song 'Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher and stirring eulogy to Vesting Day 'We Once Were Kings'. Brilliant. 'The Pitmen Painters' not a film, yet, but a very successful stage play, started in Newcastle then spread to West End and Broadway. Based on true story of a group of miners in my home town of Ashington in the 1930s who took an after-work art class and their depictions of their everyday lives became the toast of the art world. A great treatise on the purpose of art and a celebration of working class values. The actual paintings from this group are on display at Woodhorn Colliery Museum, Ashington
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'Brassed Off' charts the personal lives of brass band members as their pit is faced with closure. Stirring music and great humour with a strong message at it's heart - watch this final speech and feel the lump in your throat; Brassed Off
Community and Protest action in film:
If you're in North East England check out the programming at Side Cinema and Star and Shadow for alternative, socialist and community focused films. At Side Cinema Amber Films have a back catalogue of work they have made within local communities. |