Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

Aroview: The bittersweet dramatics of dir. Meadows (ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS) get a fresh telling in this Nottingham drama, with the added spin of some ironic nods to the 'Western' genre.

When he spots his ex-girlfriend on a TV chatshow, hardman Carlyle decides to rekindle their relationship, and injects himself back into the old neighbourhood. Filled with lively, edgy facts of life, this leads through various relationship squabbles to the inevitable violent showdown, set to a soundtrack of twanging guitars and harmonicas. Although the Sergio Leone parody feels tacked-on at times, the honesty and atmosphere of Meadow's approach wins through.

NZ International Film Festival 2003