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Mark Herman, director of Brassed Off, reflects on the film's 30th anniversary, its enduring popularity, and the challenges facing mid-budget British films today.
Mark Herman, writer and director of the 1996 British film Brassed Off, has reflected on its 30th anniversary ahead of a special live performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The film, one of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's favourite films, has remained popular since its release. A screening with live music by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, the group that inspired the film, will take place at the London venue.
Enduring Appeal and Universal Themes
Brassed Off is set in the fictional South Yorkshire town of Grimley, a decade after mineworkers struggled to save their livelihoods. It follows the Grimley Colliery Band as they await a decision from British Coal on whether their pit will close. Starring Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor, the film was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 85 in the BFI's Top 100 British Films and spawning a popular stage play.
Herman believes the film's lasting appeal lies in its universal subject matter. He said that it is not about a brass band in Grimley, but about the universal subject of being downtrodden. He finds it interesting that teenagers and young adults still connect with the film, as the message remains relevant 30 years on.
The film's success was surprising to Herman. He initially thought it might be popular within a 10-mile radius of Barnsley for about two weeks. Instead, word of mouth carried it for months in some places, and audiences expecting either a political film or a comedy received the bonus of both.
Challenges Facing British Film Industry
Looking at the current British film industry, Herman is fairly pessimistic. He feels that films like Brassed Off would not be made today. He has spent the last 10 years trying to get similar films off the ground but cannot, as the industry now focuses on blockbusters or micro-budget productions, leaving no space for mid-budget British films.
Herman adds that studios are not as brave as they were. In the old days, they would stick their neck out for risky films, but now they seem to only want to put money behind dead certs.
His own path, from childhood in Bridlington to studying graphic design at Leeds Polytechnic and the National Film and Television School, could still open doors for youngsters. However, breaking into the industry is not easy. Now in his early 70s, Herman thinks the advice he got when young to move to London and network probably still stands, though he notes that if he had done so, he might have made more films but perhaps not ones he cares about as much.
Real-Life Inspiration and Memorable Moments
The film's script unashamedly spells out how the Conservative government destroyed communities and ruined lives, with effects that persist. Higher mortality rates from suicide, alcohol and drugs developed in former pit towns and remain to this day. The shadow of Margaret Thatcher still lingers in these communities.
In a climactic scene set in the Royal Albert Hall, Pete Postlethwaite's character, Danny, the band's conductor, gives a memorable speech that was later immortalised in the protest song Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. He shouts that he thought music mattered, but not compared to how people matter. During filming, Birmingham Town Hall was substituted for the Royal Albert Hall, which was too expensive and did not look anything like the real venue.
Herman's reflections come as the Grimethorpe Colliery Band prepares to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, bringing fiction and real life together for the film's 30th anniversary.
Please follow us on Google to support usMark Herman Brassed Off Andy Burnham Grimethorpe Colliery Band Royal Albert Hall British Film Industry 30Th Anniversary
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