i missed this one first time around on main release
but it seems to have an after-life and back on the big screen
main reservation then - 1980's england - true story - miner's strike
the story pretty well told in various reviews and those mostly average
plus - bill nighy and imelda staunton - i want to like them but - well....
a twinge of social conscience and a lack of other options does the sell
mark ashton is gay and living in london - a tv news story catches his eye
margaret thatcher doing the 'never surrender' speech re the coal miners strike
then seen appealing to his friends about how much they share with the miners
hated by thatcher, the government, the media and the police - 'we have to help'
so a small rabble of gays and lesbians use a gay pride march to pass the bucket
young (straight) joe gets caught up in the march - some sympathy for the cause
following scenes of him and the gang partying it down in 1980's london town
the smiths played loud and the fashions and haircuts also wound up to the max
thinking - this is why i had reservations - but - relax - lets go with the promise
the buddies then form a group lgsm - lesbians and gays support the miners
but some difficulty getting the raised funds to be accepted by the straights
so a decision to accept an invitation to a welsh town and deliver in person
then some revealing and realistic scenes of an absolute clash of cultures
in this time and in this place homophobia is very much alive and kicking
but several sympathetic and grateful locals provide the required shield
our two main stars providing those roles and looking very comfortable
it is so feel-good that being based on a true story actually redeems it
including a brilliant dance scene with one of the gang going crazy
jonathan (dominic west) hamming it up to 'shame, shame, shame'
full-on disco dancing including table-tops that is a real highlight
(up there with a similar scene from the superb film intouchables)
music and dance thus providing the means to seal the camaraderie
including a friendship between a grey-set lady and 'my 2 lesbians'
it kind of feels clinically stereo-typed but there's a real heart to it
more so when back in london the miner's spokesman makes a visit
and a role reversal - he then in hostile territory in a full-on gay bar
but a stirring speech acknowledging their common ground saves him
again/still - almost cloyingly cliched but the sense of reality overrides
it's actually a great ride we are on and so going with it is the only way
various sub-plots are then cleverly played out with alternating visits
welsh gay gethin makes a first visit in 16 years to his disapproving mum
a hateful widow undermines (oops) the fun calling in the hostile media
young joe finally comes out and grows up when confronting his family
and a sign of the times - hiv/aids is a big issue and often discussed
so lots going on and possibly a little too much as it does start to drag
fortunately the finale wraps things up nicely with everyone gathered
a huge march in 1985 london headed by the national miners union
busloads of miners show up to show solidarity with gay groups
the text rolling at the end of the film providing sobering facts
thatcher defeated the miners but their support of gays telling
the only national union to fully endorse gay rights legislation
meaning a change in law that otherwise would have lapsed
sadly though mark ashton died of aids at the age of 26
a bit of a sad ending to a very entertaining film
informative too - a fine balance is achieved
a great social history lesson for everyone...
