I hadn’t even noticed Pride played the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year or that CBS Films had picked up the gay rights drama for a September 19 release until only recently as I was compiling my Best Supporting Actress contenders. Ultimately I didn’t include Imelda Staunton in my field of contenders, but if the film manages to gain traction perhaps that will prove to be a mistake.
Here’s the synopsis:
It’s the summer of 1984 Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.
But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.
The film stars Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, George MacKay, Paddy Considine and Ben Schnetzer and was directed by Matthew Warchus. It looks like it’s going to be a dramatic film with a bit of a light-hearted touch. Whether it’s a legit Oscar player I’m not too sure, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a good movie.
Check out the trailer below.
