James: Getting Away With It
This is the fully authorised, soulful, and wry story of James, the iconic-yet-unlikely Manchester band that survived a chaotic decade of missteps and dysfunction to achieve massive success.
Formed in early 80s Manchester, a group of awkward misfits stumbled through a decade of false starts, bad decisions and infamous missteps – joining a cult, turning down the chance to tour with The Smiths and rejecting the legendary Factory Records – before breaking through with Sit Down.
Fuelled by an improvisational and chaotic approach to music, they built a remarkable catalogue over 40 years. Yet success deepened their dysfunction, leading to collapse at the millennium. But fans refused to let them die and after repairing their differences, they reunited in 2007, finding new life, bigger audiences and finally – a number one album. James: Getting Away With It features candid interviews with band members past and present, contributions from Chris Martin, Brian Eno and Jo Whiley, unseen archive footage and hilarious backstage scenes in the present day.
The film is a soulful and wry account of creativity, friendship and the mistakes that shaped one of the UK music’s most improbable success stories.
The film's producer, Ian Neil, will introduce the screening and then following the film he will be on stage for a live Q&A to discuss the film and answer audience questions.
Programme Type: Film
Strand Type: Monthly Music Mondays
Director: Chris Atkins
Cast: Jim Glennie, Tim Booth, Dave Baynton-Power, Saul Davies, Mark Hunter
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 97 minutes