Star
rating - 9/10
Good
Vibrations has
to be one of the most 'feel good' films about a civil war situation ever made.
It is a joyous mix of youthful optimism; wild idealism; crazy expectations; great
music; all mixed with some serious politics. Northern Ireland in the late 1970's was not a
great place to live, to put it mildly, and everyone had to take a side in the
'Troubles'. Everyone that is except Terri Hooley, who came from a communist background
courtesy of his father, but wanted nothing more than to set up a record shop in
the middle of Belfast, where everyone else was trying to escape from to get away from the constant
bombings and violence.
This film is the story of his shop, Good Vibrations, and the devoted following of disaffected youths he
accidentally acquired via the medium of punk rock. Hooley believed passionately
that music could heal some of the deep divisions in his community, and was not
afraid to stand up to any of the opposing factions to put his case across. Richard
Dormer is excellent as the one eyed rebel with a serious cause. One of the
funniest and best lines of the film comes as Terri is getting extremely annoyed
by the RUC harassing youths for underage drinking in a club. 'Excuse me officer, I'd like to report a
civil war outside' is his brilliant acerbic put down to the policeman.
Hooley accidentally falls into record production, and
lots of local bands come to beg him to put their punk anthems on vinyl in his
DIY ramshackle operation. One of the most famous of all is the Undertones,
whose Teenage Kicks wows Hooley and
then guru and indeed godfather of the punk cause John Peel. The music is
wonderful, and is very cleverly interspersed with just enough politics to put it
all into its serious and often deadly context.
Directors Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa manage to get
across how likeable a character Holey is, without over sentimentalising him. Jodie
Whittaker is touching as his loving but long suffering wife Ruth. In the main it captures the period details brilliantly - except for a wonderfully dodgy wig sported by Adrian Dunbar. This is a life affirming and uplifting film, for people
like myself for whom it will bring back great, and not so great memories alike;
and also for a new generation of film goers for whom punk rock is a bit of a
mystery (excuse the Toyah pun...)
Great review - must see it as this was my time - grew up in 70s Northern Ireland. Thanks!
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