A delightful comedy! the back of the box raves. A fabulous love story! Happiness! Joy! Whimsical frolics in the street! Blissful romantic evenings on the dock eating fish and chips with a man with crooked teeth!

The back of the box is a liar.

What we are really faced with in this movie is Yorkshire in northern England, 1992. Mining crises abound. The government has instilled pit closure programs for certain mines that don't seem to be profitable. Miners are unhappy and stressed out, faced with worries about losing their homes and being unable to feed their families.

But then there is the Grimley Colliery Band. Danny (Pete Poselthwaite) is the band's director and he believes music is the most important thing in life. Most of the band's membership is made up of miners. Competitions are coming up and Danny needs the band to focus and practice daily. The miners have other ideas. They want to quit. They no longer see the importance of a band. Until Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald) enters the picture. Gloria is pretty, her grandfather was a former band director and she sure can play the flugal horn. Andy, a miner and member of the band, (Ewan McGregor) remembers her from their junior high days when they kissed behind the bus station.

Gloria brings new inspiration to the band. Now, they want to play. But when they go to a regional band competition, they make fools of themselves. A fling starts to happen between Gloria and Andy, and the situation with the mines only gets worse. Danny's son, Phil (Stephen Tompkinson) is faced with suicidal thoughts when his wife leaves him. Danny is struck down with some sort of pneumonia miner's get. Will life even get worse for the miners after all of this?

Directed by Mark Herman, this British film wasn't exactly what the back of the box said it was. It definitely was not a delightful comedy. Though there was a love story, it was not the focus of the movie as the summary on the back of the box seemed to claim. There were some funny moments, but they seemed to be overshadowed by the miners' dilemma.

The soundtrack was provided by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which the Grimley Colliery Band pretends to be in the movie. If you enjoy classical music played by brass instruments, then you might enjoy this movie and the soundtrack.

Overall, this movie was well done, the actors played their parts well, and I was able to feel sympathy for the characters during their dilemmas. If browsing in the video store, you happen to come across this movie, don't listen to the back of the box. It will deceive you.

Oh yes, there is an obligatory Ewan nude scene.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day