THERE’s precious little “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” as Poole’s Lighthouse arts centre heads into autumn. Rather, the arts centre is ripping it up with a short season of cult films that explored and celebrated different aspects of youth rebellion.
Since the 1950s, youth culture in this country has a wide and varied history, from the defiant rebellion of Teddy Boys, mods and rockers and the many activist movements that have shaped our society, to the sordid “glamour” of the drug scene, hedonistic self-expression in the music and fashion scenes and the emotional rollercoaster that is simply being a teenager – all of which have been portrayed on screen in a multitude of ways.
RIP IT UP, running throughout September, explores and celebrates the changing face of youth rebellion, culture and expression – from joy to heartbreak – in the UK.
With the Southbank Centre marking the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain – a landmark moment of post-war cultural renewal – and the 50th anniversary of punk this year, the Lighthouse is joining in with the British Film Institute’s celebration of how youth scenes and counterculture have impacted our lives and resonate to this day, inspiring new generations and beyond.
The season starts on Tuesday 1st September with Human Traffic (18), at 7pm in the cinema. Starring John Simm, Lorraine Pilkington and Shaun Parkes, it is the story of five youngsters embracing the 90s clubbing scene on a drug-fuelled weekend of partying in Cardiff.
On Tuesday 8th September, at 7.30pm, the film is Trainspotting (18) – the raw, critically acclaimed original, not the musical version which has fallen so flat (with a planned tour cancelled). Director Danny Boyle’s landmark film of Irvine Welsh’s literary classic stars Ewan McGregor, Robert Caryle, Ewen Bremner and Jonny Lee Miller in a restoration of the cult classic, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out despite the allure of drugs and the influence of friends.
Ish (15), at 7.45pm on Thursday 24th September, 7.45pm, is directed by Imran Perretta, with Zubin Varla, Stefan Mihalache and Joy Crookes in the story of two best friends facing the end of childhood. Racial profiling and a traumatic police stop-and-search tear them apart, teaching Ish about letting go in a society where brown boys are constantly watched.
The season ends on Friday 9th October at 7.30pm, with Quadrophenia. Jimmy Cooper loathes his dead-end job and his working-class parents. He seeks solace with his mod clique, scooter riding and drugs, only to be disappointed. Director Franc Roddam’s film stars Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Phil Davis, Ray Winstone and Sting, and is based on The Who’s rock opera album of the same name.
Pictured: Sting in Quadrophenia and Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting.