Brassed Off (1996) is a British film written and directed by Mark Herman. The film is black comedy about the troubles faced by a colliery brass band, following the closure of their pit. The soundtrack for the film was provided by The Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and the plot is based on Grimethorpe's own struggles against pit closures, although there also seems to be a strong correlation with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the closure of nearby "Frickley Colliery". Certain aspects of the film are scoffed at by some in the brass band world, but are generally very positively received for its role in promoting brass bands and their music. Parts of the film make reference to the huge increase in suicides that resulted from the end of the coal industry and the struggle to retain hope in the circumstances.
Channel 4 and the Guardian both sponsored what was expected to be a low-profile film; it was not expected to gain the wide audience that it has done. Having expected viewers to be mostly those with past links to coal-mining, the film does not make explicit the political background to the plot. Curiously, the American marketing for the film (and subsequent VHS and DVD releases) tries to portray it as a cheerful romantic comedy with nearly no mention at all about the musical or political elements that dominate it.
The film stars Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor. The film was well-received as a comedy, and by some as a political statement about the state of traditional coal mining communities in Britain. Released shortly before the 1997 UK general election which removed the Conservative government of the past 18 years, it was a timely and accessible piece of propaganda. The film has also become an infamous example of how not to imitate the Yorkshire dialect and accent. The only accents in the film that were close to accurate were those of Stephen Tompkinson and a few minor characters.
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Apollo Leisure Guide - review of the politically-charged British comedy.
IMDb: Brassed Off - Synopsis, cast and crew, awards and links.
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