This film works on so many different levels. As a social and political film it captures the impact on people that our ever evolving industrial development has. The story focuses on the closure of a mine that supports an entire community. The management skillfully divide the community by offering rewards for their compliance. There's also a difficult romance that blossoms between a miner (Andy) and a manager (Gloria). Danny is more interested in music than anything else, but by the end of the film he has a different perspective on life. On the face of it this is a very grim movie, but underneath it is warm and shows just how strong the human spirit can be. The outdoor competitions where they get blasted and play very badly was filmed just up the road from me and they're still going strong today. Pete Postlethwaite is a fine actor, Tara Fitzgerald is gorgeous and I've not even mentioned Ewan McGregor so this must be good.
Review of Brassed Off
