MAN DANCIN'

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER AT 5:10PM UGC SHAFTESBURY AVE SCREEN 1

Country UK Running Time 109 mins Format 35mm Dir Norman Stone Prod Ray Marshall S'play Sergio Casci DoP Mike Fox Cast Alex Ferns, Tom Georgeson, Kenneth Cranham, James Cosmo, Jenny Foulds, Gerald Lepkpwski Print Source 1A Productions E langshot@nildram.co.uk

Man Dancin' follows the story of ex-boxer and hard man Jimmy Kerrigan (Ferns), a Glaswegian criminal who returns to his old hunting ground after a long stint inside. But Jimmy has changed and he's determined to go straight - his dream is to take off abroad with his younger brother. Before he can do that he has to sit out his parole and resist the pressures of old associates - his old crime boss and dodgy DI Villers, neither of whom can believe Jimmy's no longer in the game. As part of his probation, Jimmy is coerced into performing in a local Passion Play run by closet boxer Father Flynn (Georgeson) and it's not long before the at first reluctant Kerrigan commits to the project and God, causing waves in the community that no-one could predict. At one point Kerrigan talks about having just read up about the shared effect. 'I start you finish' he says; a perfect echo of what is to come. It is the sharpness of the script, and flashes of directorial brilliance that make the film.

Norman Stone and the team have succeeded in creating a frank, witty and hopeful film. With across-the-board strong performances from a talented cast, and some catchy blues tunes from Tam White, this film is worth a watch and Stone a name to look out for in the future. ED

Norman Stone is an established TV producer/director, with BAFTAs and Emmys being awarded for documentary and drama work on The Black Velvet Gown, Shadowlands and After the Laughter. This is his first feature film.