I'm biased. I love film and I love Hull. Lived in either Hull or its vicinity all my life. Would I have got the same nostalgia and feeling from this film if I didn't? Probably not. But you'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel for Steve and his plight. All he wants is a break - he has much to offer. But like many people living in today's Britain, dreams are just that. If you're not one of the lucky few (I put myself in that bracket - not through talent but by being in the right place at the right time), 'social mobility' is but a pipe dream. To see the confidence in Harvey grow like it did was wonderful. That is a success story. Without getting too political, it's hard to see how such ventures could be funded in the future without the ring-fenced City of Culture money. Will there be a lasting legacy? I have my doubts - and at times you could see Steve's frustration pouring out. I hope he makes a success of his Beats Bus company - he deserves it.
Review of A Northern Soul
