Brassed Off

• Mark Herman
• 108 min
• United Kingdom, United States
• 1996
• Fiction

Mining strike romance meets tender physical comedy in this British '90s gem that depicts an English town's two main industries: the coal mine and the brass band.

In the English mining town of Grimley, Thatcher's government wants to shut down another coal mine. In times of total uncertainty, the town's brass band is the only thing that can clear the mind, and under the leadership of a nostalgic conductor, they struggle to keep their spirits up. The disheartened Andy has lost his faith in the future, but when the returning Gloria suddenly appears in the rehearsal room with her flugelhorn, a spark of hope is ignited in him that life might still turn around. Mark Herman has made a social realist and fact-based film bursting with warm character portraits that depict a small community's enormous cohesion, where Ewan McGregor excels in the leading role.

- Johanna Palm