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Anyone in the UK catch this? Can thoroughly recommend it and it's available for d/l on BBC's iplayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04jmx7l/marvellous
It's a documentary of sorts about an unusual man, born and still living in my home town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, a mile from my house. Living, in fact, in the block of flats my brother lived in before he emigrated. Mum was having coffee on Friday in town and he walked by. She wanted to tell him how much she'd enjoyed the film but didn't like to bother him.
So who is he? What did he do? I'll borrow from one of the most famous authors our town produced, Arnold Bennett. In his hilarious book, 'The Card' he follows the adventures of Denry, who rose from poverty to riches with a lot of ingenuity and daring. The book ends,
"What a card!" said one, laughing joyously. "He's a rare 'un, no mistake."
"Of course, this'll make him more popular that ever," said another. "We've never had a man to touch him for that."
"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?"
"He's identified," said the first speaker, "with the great cause of cheering us all up."
In the film, Neil is played by Toby Jones, with Neil himself appearing by his side at times. The format is interesting; it dips into a story, jumps out to talk to real people, and is framed by a choir. The opening is immediate, poignant to any Stoke supporter as they launch into 'Delilah'.
Neil is, I guess, learning disabled, but labels don't fit him well. He goes through life achieving objectives and goals that seem ludicrously ambitious. He gets to play in a Stoke testimonial game at the age of 50. Has an honorary degree from Keele. Knows bishops, politicians, footballers. He tells people he's good friends with famous people and they smile, not believing, but it's true. He gets into places an average person would be barred from simply buy being Neil.
This is a gentle, powerful, moving story but you laugh more than you cry and it's never schmoopy.
Details here:
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/sep/26/marvellous-neil-baldwin-toby-jones-peter-bowker-film
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04jmx7l/marvellous
It's a documentary of sorts about an unusual man, born and still living in my home town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, a mile from my house. Living, in fact, in the block of flats my brother lived in before he emigrated. Mum was having coffee on Friday in town and he walked by. She wanted to tell him how much she'd enjoyed the film but didn't like to bother him.
So who is he? What did he do? I'll borrow from one of the most famous authors our town produced, Arnold Bennett. In his hilarious book, 'The Card' he follows the adventures of Denry, who rose from poverty to riches with a lot of ingenuity and daring. The book ends,
"What a card!" said one, laughing joyously. "He's a rare 'un, no mistake."
"Of course, this'll make him more popular that ever," said another. "We've never had a man to touch him for that."
"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?"
"He's identified," said the first speaker, "with the great cause of cheering us all up."
In the film, Neil is played by Toby Jones, with Neil himself appearing by his side at times. The format is interesting; it dips into a story, jumps out to talk to real people, and is framed by a choir. The opening is immediate, poignant to any Stoke supporter as they launch into 'Delilah'.
Neil is, I guess, learning disabled, but labels don't fit him well. He goes through life achieving objectives and goals that seem ludicrously ambitious. He gets to play in a Stoke testimonial game at the age of 50. Has an honorary degree from Keele. Knows bishops, politicians, footballers. He tells people he's good friends with famous people and they smile, not believing, but it's true. He gets into places an average person would be barred from simply buy being Neil.
This is a gentle, powerful, moving story but you laugh more than you cry and it's never schmoopy.
Details here:
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/sep/26/marvellous-neil-baldwin-toby-jones-peter-bowker-film
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Lou Macari was gone up hugely in my estimation!
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Lou Macari was a great manager for Stoke. I remember him well. Good to see him in it!