Brassed Off (1996)

The Yorkshire mining community of Grimley is threatened when the mine risks closure. Gloria Mullins (Tara Fitzgerald) is sent there to assess the profitability on behalf of British Coal. She grew up in the village and rekindles her childhood romance with Andy Barrow (Ewan McGregor). She also joins the miners' brass band, led by Danny Ormondroyd (Pete Postlethwaite), who is clearly not well after his years working at the pit. Meanwhile, Danny's son Phil (Stephen Tompkinson) is having his own problems with his marriage and finances.

It's a tightly plotted kitchen-sink drama with flashes of comedy and a very strong political message. McGregor delivers one of his better performances, although – as usual – he never sparkles. Fortunately everyone else does. Postlethwaite is charismatic as the band leader who cares so passionately about music that he overlooks other priorities. Fitzgerald is great as the crispy, pretty outsider who turns out to be “management”. And Tompkinson is believable as a desperate man whose problems keep piling up.

I was never a fan of brass, but the music sounds potent and poignant. It takes on greater significance as the story winds towards its moving conclusion, with no easy resolution.