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T he film has a heart. That’s
what hit me when I read it and that’s what John [Hay] has
translated on to the big screen. It’s a modern day urban fairy tale which is set in the very real world of Manchester and deals with the very serious issue of bullying. But it’s also infused with a sense of magic, which makes it immensely charming and very moving.”
That’s Robert Carlyle
talking about his latest
film There’s Only One
Jimmy Grimble, the tale
of a 15-year-old (new-
comer Lewis Mackenzie)
who’s a footballing genius – until he has to play in public.
Directed and co-written (with Simon Mayle and Rik Carmichael) by John Hay, the film – receiving its world premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival - also stars Ray Winstone, Gina McKee, John McArdle, Jane Lapotaire, Samia Ghadie and Bobby Power, as Jimmy’s schoolyard nemesis, Gorgeous Gordon Burley.
The project began to evolve after producer Jeremy Bolt first read Mayle’s story about a young boy who is bullied at school but who succeeds on the football pitch thanks to a pair of lucky boots.
“I was very keen to produce a British film about childhood,” said Bolt. “School-life in Britain has a long tradition on television but has never worked on the big screen. What was
so exciting about this screenplay was that it was about a real school kid, not a twee, bland stereotype.”
Hay’s brief to his behind-the-cam- era collaborators was very specific.” I wanted a very precise colour palette. The film is about two tribes, Jimmy’s Manchester City and Gorgeous’ Manchester United, and they are defined by blue and red, respectively.
“That colour palette becomes a visual theme so red equals danger and blue equals friendship and secu-
rity. I also wanted to avoid the gritty, grim, scuzzy look of so many British films. I wanted a very warm feel to the film, with punchy primary colours and a polished, lasting luxurious sheen.”
According to cin- ematographer John de Borman (The Full Monty, Hideous Kinky): “We were interested in creating a northern town in northern weather but one that would be alive with colour. That meant comple- menting the bright sets and costumes with warm lighting.
“We used a lot of sodium lights which give out a deep yellow glow and we shot on the new Fuji stock which is very punchy and bright. John was anx- ious at first that it would be too bright but against the grey skies and murky weather of Manchester, we needed that intensity to bring out the colour of the lighting.” ■ QUENTIN FALK
There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble
was originated on Fujicolor Motion Picture Negative. It is on general release around the UK from August 25
feature in focus
LIVING FOR KICKS
LIVING FOR KICKS
Robert Carlyle’s soccer-themed latest There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble
Photos top: Robert Carlyle in There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble; above left: Lewis Mackenzie and Carlyle; Director John Hay with cast Cinematographer John de Borman prepares; a bullying moment from the film
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