1996 Movie
Dir. Mark Herman · United Kingdom, United States of America · English
A community brass band plays their swan song in this warm and moving drama
When we elect people to power, they usually promise some sort of change that their constituents like, but given the nature of democracy, some places might like certain changes while others bear the brunt of the shaft. Brassed Out is specifically based on the privitization of British Coal in the 90s, so the context can be lost for younger viewers outside the nation. But it’s this specificity that grounds the film, as writer-director Mark Herman clearly lays down the real life stakes these coal miners had to face– the loss of livelihood, purpose, and community. Of course, this makes the film full of anger, making its slang title quite fitting. Sometimes, this pushes certain moments to clunky exposition. However, Brassed Out directs that stirring emotion for the common good, reminding us about the real people that faced these sweeping changes.
A Yorkshire coal mine is threatened with closure and the only hope is for the men to enter their Grimley Colliery Brass Band into a national competition. They believe they have no hope until Gloria appears carrying her Flugelhorn. At first mocked for being a woman, she soon becomes the only chance for the band to win.
"Herman has come up with a neat idea in a setting he knows and understands, and the script, helped along by an excellent selection of Brit character actors, has a generally taught, well-worked-over feel."
— Derek Elley
As Britain makes the shift to privatize its coal, the fate of the local coal mine in a Yorkshire village is up in the air. Because of this, passionate conductor Danny Ormondroyd finds himself having trouble bringing together the mine’s colliery band for one last hurrah.
The music, of course. For some viewers, this would be their first introduction to many of the instruments that the band plays, but the classic selection, along with the addition of composer Trevor Jones’ beautiful score, are played wonderfully by the very same real life band it references.
It's not perfect, but it's the kind of community-inspired filmmaking that we want to see more of.
Berlin
1 nom
BAFTA
3 noms
César Awards
1 win
Goya Awards
1 nom
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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