Posted in Film

Tony Benn: Will and Testament, at a cinema near you next week

benn_film portrait adTony Benn, the longest serving Labour MP in history, is also, arguably, the most popular UK politician of all time. Across the globe and in particular over the last five years his brand of socialism has struck a cord with people of all ages and social backgrounds. For the first time ever through intimate, quasi confessional interviews and his personal, photographic and film archive ‘Will And Testament’ reveals a very human face behind the political mask.

In this feature length film, Tony Benn also criss-crosses the UK bearing witness to major social and political upheavals and events. This documentary is an exclusive and deeply personal look at the life of a national treasure, a frank, candid and sometimes painful exploration of the great themes of life that affected him and affect us all, love, loss, hopes, dreams, fears and death. Never before has a person of his calibre and reputation spoken to camera in such a direct way.

The film is in local cinemas from 3 October. See here for a list of which cinemas and links for timings and further details. There is also a special screening on 5 October, at 4:30pm with a panel discussion afterwards with guests including Labour MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition Lindsey German, former BBC Political Editor John Sergeant and Director Of Photography on Will and Testament Michael Miles. This is live from the Genesis Cinema, Whitechapel in East London but linked to cinemas throughout Britain live by satellite – further details here.

 

Pride trailer: lesbians and gays support the miners

Pride is inspired by an extraordinary true story. It’s the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Initially rebuffed by the union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all.

Director Matthew Warchus, best known for staging theatre adaptions of Matilda, Lord of the Rings and Ghost, said it was a script he “just couldn’t say no to.” He said:

It made me laugh out loud, it surprised and delighted me at every turn, and it ultimately moved me to tears. It’s a truly affirming and inspiring story, funny, honest and moving, and by the end of it you want to punch the air and cheer.”

The film stars Bill Nighy, Paddy Considine, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West.It is in cinemas from 19 September.

Tony Benn – the spin doctor


Tony Benn has been described as the Peter Mandelson of the 1950s. That is probably going too far, but a spin doctor he was, keen to enable the Labour Party to make the best possible use of the modern communications technology – the TV. This is a party political broadcast from September 1959. Note the sheer modernity of the swivel chair. And the reference to “policies not personalities” about 2 minutes 24 into the broadcast.

American dream or American nightmare?

Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore in It's a Beautiful LifeBest Xmas movie ever or Communist propaganda? A thank you to 21CenturyManifesto for reminding us that It’s a Beautiful Life starring Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore, now Britain’s favourite Christmas movie according to a poll for the Radio Times, was regarded as Communist propaganda by the FBI at the time.

In a reverse of the Christmas Carol theme, Frank Capra’s wonderful 1946 movie – a financial flop at the time – takes the thoroughly good but suicidal George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, and with the intervention of his guardian angel (second class) restores his faith in himself by revealing how much worse his world would have been without him. Continue reading →

Tony Benn the movie – A sneak preview of ‘Will and Testament’

This a sneak preview of the feature documentary, Will and Testament which the film-makers say will be coming to cinemas in late Spring 2014, and a very good trailer in its own right it is too.

Tony Benn who is 88, is the longest serving Labour MP in history, and also, arguably, the most popular UK politician of all time. Across the globe and in particular over the last five years his brand of socialism has struck a cord with people of all ages and social backgrounds. For the first time ever through intimate, quasi confessional interviews and his personal, photographic and film archive Will And Testament reveals a very human face behind the political mask. Continue reading →