Rent Morris: A Life with Bells On (2009)
3.5 of 5 from 59 ratings
1h 41min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Following in the finest tradition of This Is Spinal Tap and Best In Show, Morris: A Life With Bells On is a heart-warming mocumentary about that most traditional and eccentric of English pastimes: morris dancing. Set in the idyllic countryside of south west England, the film follows the life of rebel morris dancer Derecq Twist (Charles Thomas Oldham) as he struggles to drag the ancient practice of The Morris kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. When a film producer (Aidan McArdle) sets out to make a documentary about Derecq, a humble tractor mechanic from west Dorset who lives and breathes The Morris ("Morris is my life"), he unwittingly enters the complex world of this aggressively contested contact sport that to his surprise is dominated by politics, intimidation and resistance to change. That along with lots of hallucinogenic cider... Derecq's efforts at modernising the ancient dance fall foul of the Morris Circle who, led by the sinister Quentin Neely MC CBE (Derek Jacobi), eventually rusticate him from their organisation for daring to improvise and innovate. Derecq recovers from this blow to form New Moms -"The Third Way" - and all is going smoothly when tragedy unexpectedly strikes forcing Derecq to find answers in California where he discovers love, fame and lightweight trainer's. Will Derecq s love for Sonja (Naomie Harris) or the promise of fame and fortune by New Age philanthropist Miloslav Villandry (Greg Wise) make him turn his back on his English roots? Or will Derecq s longing for the perfect pint of cider and a dance with the lads back at The Travellers Staff lead him back to the West Country? - Actors:
- Lucy Akhurst, Brodie Bass, Andy Black, John Boswall, Jasper Britton, Ben Bela Böhm, Thomas Coombes, Adam Ewan, Gary Fannin, Naomie Harris, Ian Hart, Derek Jacobi, Corinne Kempa, Zena Khan, Pascal Langdale
- Directors:
- Lucy Akhurst
- Producers:
- Charles Thomas Oldham
- Writers:
- Tom Oldham
- Studio:
- Safecracker Pictures
- Genres:
- Comedy
- Collections:
- Getting to Know: Emma Thompson
