I watched this film very recently (as in last weekend and also yesterday) for probably about the 2nd or 3rd time and I still love it to death. The film is about a group of Drama Students who put on a modern version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. The music however, is perhaps what makes me love the film so very much. Lots of Bowie and really cool 80s pop is used throughout and even in the final production of the students “The Tempest”. Minnie Driver stars as the drama teacher and gives a really fantastic performance as a drama student who is sick of not being taken seriously because the other teachers at the school she works at think that there are subjects more important than drama.
The cast, although not well-known are extraordinary to watch (mostly) as working class welsh students. This definitely makes the film more relatable especially for teenagers (including me – a 19 year old girl) because of some of the topics explored including first love, first heartbreak and many other awkward experiences.
My three favourite characters in the film are Davy (Aneurin Barnard), Evan (Tom Rhys Harries) and Jake (George Mackay – who was also in Sunshine On Leith later on). The three give very different stories, Davy (trying to figure out love and kissing his teacher – Minnie Driver), Evan (learning to embrace that he is much more different to his students and has an adorable little crush on Davy) and Jake (loving one of his best mates sisters which doesn’t go down so well). Aneurin’s cover of Life On Mars? By David Bowie and Tom’s cover of One Summer Dream by the Electric Light Orchestra have got to be two of the most wonderful, gorgeous things I have ever heard in my life. Definitely a one million out of 5 stars review if I could give it this.
Maia’s Movies, Music & Media 