- Source: Svengali (2013 film)
Svengali is a 2013 British film directed by John Hardwick, written by Jonny Owen, and starring Martin Freeman, Vicky McClure, Matt Berry, Michael Socha, Michael Smiley, Vauxhall Jermaine and Natasha O'Keeffe. The film was produced by Root Films.
Synopsis
Dixie (Jonny Owen) is a postman from South Wales, a mod, and a music fanatic. All his life he's dreamed of discovering a great band and then one day, trawling through YouTube, he finds them... 'The Premature Congratulations' (aka The Prims). He hunts them down and offers them his management services. They are young, arrogant, sexy and utterly magnificent. Putting their demo on a cassette tape, Dixie heads out onto the streets of London... Innocent, wide-eyed Dixie embarks on a roller coaster ride through the most infamous industry of them all. His partner and his sanity through it all is his soulmate Michelle (Vicky McClure).
Dixe hunts down an old friend Horsey (Roger Evans), who is in the music business, however Horsey wants nothing do with his old friend. While pestering Horsey in a pub, he meets Alan McGee, famous band manager. Dixie borrows money to set up the band for their first gig, and running low on cash, takes money that was meant for him and Shell's wedding. The gig goes very well, with a huge turnout and lots of industry people turn up, even with the BBC offering a gig.
However, Dixie is burning through cash. Dixie gets a job at Don's records. Don (Martin Freeman) is also a mod, and his wife insists on giving him a job.
Dixie continues trying to get gigs for the band, who are constantly borrowing money from him. He tries to work at Don's, but ends up getting sacked because he makes mistakes. Horsey's boss at the management agency Jeremy Braines (Matt Berry), hears how big the Prims are getting and tells Horsey he must sign them.
The Prims get kicked out of their flat, and start living at Dixies and Shell's flat, and in the meantime, Dixie goes back to his family in Wales for a quick visit, only to find out his dad is dying. Upon return to London, he goes back to his flat; Shell is at the end of her tether with all the money problems, the final straw being when she finds the money for their wedding has been spent.
Locked out of the flat, by the Russian landlady Vanya because they haven't paid the rent, he breaks in to grab his prized possession, his soul records, and then finds himself homeless in London. Horsey offers him a place to stay for the night and buys his prized records for 5000 pounds. Dixie uses that to pay off his loans. Finally, with the band starting to be successful, but his own life in a romantic and financial mess, he realises he needs to make a choice between the band, and his love for Michelle.
Cast
Jonny Owen as Dixie
Vicky McClure as Shell
Roger Evans as Horsey
Martin Freeman as Don
Maxine Peake as Angie
Matt Berry as Jeremy Braines
Michael Socha as Tommy
Michael Smiley as Irish Pierre
Natasha O'Keeffe as Natasha
Morwenna Banks as Francine
Ciarán Griffiths as Burnsy
Joel Fry as Macca
Dylan Edwards as Jake
Curtis Lee Thompson as Scott
Jessica Ellerby as Alice
Vauxhall Jermaine as Marcus
Katy Brand as Katya
Di Botcher as Mrs. Cooper
Brian Hibbard as Dixie's Dad
Huw Stephens as Himself
Alan McGee as Himself
Max Rushden as Himself
Carl Barat as Himself
Pearl Mackie as F.O.H Girl
Edinburgh Film Festival
Svengali was selected to show at the 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival. It has also been nominated for the Michael Powell Award; a prize which honours the best British feature film.
Reception
Svengali received mostly unfavourable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 38% based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 4.4/10.
References
External links
Official website
Svengali at IMDb
Svengali at the TCM Movie Database
Svengali at AllMovie
Svengali at Edinburgh
Svengali at Edinburgh International Film Festival
Vicky McClure interview talking about Svengali in the Big Issue
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Vicky McClure
- Jodie Foster
- Martin Freeman
- Bird Box
- Daftar film Warner Bros.
- Academy Awards ke-4
- Jared Harris
- Aktor Utama Terbaik (BAFTA)
- Filmografi Jodie Foster
- Academy Award untuk Desain Produksi Terbaik
- Svengali (2013 film)
- Svengali (disambiguation)
- Vicky McClure
- Jonny Owen
- 1931 in film
- Jessica Ellerby
- Sean Harris
- 1916 in film
- 1962 in film
- 1911 in film