Why we chose it – quirky but meaningful, a German filmmaker’s view of Britain navigating Brexit.

Synopsis – Behind the scenes at the end of the pier show in the faded seaside town of Cromer: could there be anything more melancholically British? But don’t laugh, they’re good. The film follows the show from its initial rehearsals to the gala opening and its full run. Both triumph and disaster are met along the way. The narrative is interspersed with interviews with the cast and crew, and other local Cromer residents. This is 2019 and Brexit is on everyone’s mind.

The film – Here is an interview with Jens Meurer, the anglophile German director (his wife is English) in which he reveals the subtle depths of the film. It’s not just a documentary about a variety show, but also a portrait of a community that finds itself divided. Can a collective theatrical experience be a unifying force? He also has some interesting things to say about shooting on film (he used 16mm)) and shooting on video and the different approach to filmmaking that needs.

Director: Jens Meurer, Cinematography: Leonidas Arvantis, Bernd Fischer, Torsten Lippstock. Germany 2023

Links – imdb The Guardian Filmhounds