As Stuart Jeffries writes in today's Guardian, Yasmin, which is on Channel 4 tonight, is definite must see TV. Its lead, Archie Panjabi, was the best thing in East is East and and, with a script by Simon Beaufoy of Full Monty fame, you know that it has impeccable credentials.
So, why am I blogging about it now, rather than waiting till I see it tonight and offering my opinion then? Am I that lacking in inspiration for subjects to blog on that I've rented out the blog as an online listing magazines to reach out to my regular three readers?
Nah, the reason I wanted to mention it was because of the following incident that took place on the streets of Keighley when a particular scene was being filmed, and which is mentioned in the aforementioned Guardian article:
"In that scene, a gang of young white boys throw milk at a Muslim woman wearing a burka in a Keighley shopping precinct and yell at her to go home. Simon Beaufoy's script has the eponymous Yasmin comforting the distressed woman, but what is particularly lovely about the scene is that an elderly white woman, appalled at the boys' behaviour, rushes up to the two women to apologise.The woman turns out to have been a passing shopper who did not realise she had stumbled on to a film shoot. "It was such a great unscripted moment, we decided we had to keep it in," says producer Sally Hibbin. "There was also an old bloke who started coming over and attacking the kids for what they were doing. He didn't know we were making a film, either.""
I smiled when I read that.
5 comments:
What a great story. Sally Hibben - that name rings a bell. For what it's worth (and that's probably not a lot) if she's person I'm thinking of and has worked with Ken Loach in the past, I think she was in the Young Communist League (or CPGB) back in her Oxford days.
Hello Reidski,
I done a quite shufty of IMDB and you are right, Sally Hibben has worked a hell of a lot with Loach as well as on other really good films directed and written by people such as Stephen Frears, Jimmy McGovern and Les Blair.
It was a blast from the past seeing that one of the first things she ever produced was 'A Very British Coup'. Mmm, a drama about a left-wing Labour Government elected with a popular mandate to tackle the 'commanding heights of the economy' only to be met with opposition from the establishment. I never really rated it, preferring the film 'Defence of the Realm' from the same period, but Ray McInally gave one of his usual brilliant perfomances. I bet its author, Chris Mullin, now at the Foreign Office, must have a rueful smile when he thinks back to his novel.
BTW - mention of Sally Hibbin being in the YCL/CPGB at Oxford in her student days, is that insider knowledge? You're not confessing to a past life as a tankie are you, Reidski? ;-)
I don't know her myself, but do know someone who went to University with her.
By the way, I left the CPB a couple of years ago, having first joined the CPGB circa 1989.
I don't use labels about my politics these days other than to say I'm into democracy and, to paraphrase Joe Strummer: I'm anti-racist, anti-imperialist, pro-working class and pro-rock n roll.
Basically, I'm for the redistribution of wealth.
Hello Reidski,
Damn, I missed my chance to do the lame gag of asking if you were in fact the Dr John Reid. It sort of fits - surname, exiled Scot, ex-CPer, remembers when Gerry Creaney played for Celtic, living in South London and a big fan of the Trashcans. It sort of fitted. Nae worries, another lame joke from me will no doubt arrive shortly.
Joined the CPGB in 1989? I was already in the SPGB at that time. I caught the bug young after being in the Labour Party for a couple of years as a 15/16 year old. Damn if I had just sat tight and played my cards right in the Labour Party, I might even be minutes secretary of my local ward Labour Party by now. Another glorious self-seeking political career thwarted by misplaced youthful idealism.
I'm sure if we met in real life that, in between us both singing the praises of the greatest footballer of all time - bend the knee to Jimmy Johnstone - we would find lots to agree to disagree over. Next time you see a demo in London, I will be that one guy trying to sell the Socialist Standard.
BTW - I'm still holding you to that review of the Gang of Four gig on your blog. I will be reminding you in your comments box closer it gets to the date. ;-)
I had been in the Labour Party for a few years before my communist party days - and, believe it or not, I may return to the Labour Party sooner rather than later. But that is not to say that I am a Blairista, but simply that I believe it is the only party in town. My views on economics and geopolitics have not changed at all since my CP days, it's just that I cannot stand the middle-class liberalism of the once-mainstream left these days.
The greatest Celtic player of all time? Yes, I'll go along with you on that one. Speaking of which, I was perusing the DVD shelves of HMV and Virgin before Chrimbo and came across the Celtic section of the Sports stuff. While tempted to get my son the Jimmy Johnstone DVD or a classic Celtic in the 60s disc, I paused and became frightened that the boy wouldn't appreciate the art of the time. But, writing about it now, I think: "Fuck it, that DVD is coming to chez Reidski pretty damn soon!" If he doesn't appreciate it, at least I can watch classic footie.
And, finally, I'm damn sure that there'll be a whole lot of things that we can agree on - as long as someone is not a racist, fascist or bourgeois ponce (so that rules out SWP members), then I can share a drink with them.
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