A Northern Soul

Worth a watch on catch up ....

Sean McAllister’s latest documentary, A Northern Soul (10Ft Films, 2018), is an essential film for anyone wishing to understand the reality of life for many working people locked in poverty in Britain today.

Set in his native city of Hull during its year in the spotlight as City of Culture (McAllister was creative director of the spectacularly successful opening show, Made in Hull), the film’s central protagonist, Steve Arnott, is a factory worker nurturing a long-held ambition to take hip-hop to the deprived estates of the city. His employers donate a van which is converted into a recording studio and decorated with graffiti. The Beats Bus is taken by Steve and his team of volunteers into schools with the aim of engaging disadvantaged youngsters, with the film vividly demonstrating how music and culture has the potential to transform young people’s lives.

At the same time, the film explores the everyday reality of life for many workers up and down the country, trapped by debt and low pay, unable to break free from the restrictions poverty places on them. “How long do you hold on to your dream?” Steve asks.

https://www.jrf.org.uk/case-study/sean-mcallisters-a-northern-soul
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bshjrv/a-northern-soul