A Bunch of Amateurs

This film was shown on BBC iPlayer under its Storyville banner which is usually the sign that you are about to watch a well crafted, thoughtful and perhaps offbeat documentary. This ticks all those boxes and presents a real life story about the often overlooked need for artistic expression present in working class men and women.

A Bunch of Amateurs also tells a poignant story about our neoliberal age and the general loss of social capital. Behind the sometimes bizarre movies and minuted AGMs is the quiet struggle of a aging group of amateur filmakers to keep their club going - if only as a place to meet friends - in the face of mounting unpaid bills and an indifferent wider public. Like many clubs and societies, this club, formed in 1932, is a relic of another age and its heyday has long since past. There is the fear throughout the documentary that the club shares its destiny with its elderly former president, Colin - that both are frail and in the latter years of their lives.

Is there indeed a purpose in a bunch of Bradford misfits with minimal equipment, little acting ability and less money - without, for that matter, much sign of any real cinematic sense - remaking Oklahoma? That's the profound existential question at the heart of this real-life version of Detectorists, a film which is fun, warm-hearted but also with a strange pathos. And, surprisingly, you may come away feeling that the answer is 'yes'.

The one thing I would say is that it maybe would have been better as a series: an hour and a half of it is a lot to watch in one go (as it would be for the fictional version).

It's often said that the root of the English word 'amateur' is in the Latin for 'love', meaning that the word refers to people doing something out of love. It isn't, at it's heart, a derogatory term but one of affirmation. That's the sense in which this beautifully made documentary means it as it follows a small amateur film-makers' club in the north of England as its mainly older members fight for the club's survival. It's a film for which the term 'heart-warming' could have been invented, a humane hymn to doing things for the love of the thing itself and for the sake of the people you do it with. In the film's closing minutes, COVID hits and you fear the worst for the club and its members - but it brings with it an unexpected twist which feels like an affirmation of all that's good and worthwhile in a world that so often feels cruel and dark. A perfect film for me to watch whilst Trump was sworn in for his second Presidency of the USA.

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for this amazing movie. It was truly one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and it will go down as a classic. I was enthralled by the various story lines, moved by the characters, and thrilled with the way it was filmed. You all did an incredible job and I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for creating something so special that we can all enjoy.

Movies can have an incredible and lasting impact on our lives. A great movie transports us to different worlds, gives us a glimpse into someone else's experiences, and can even alter our perspectives. It reminds us why life is beautiful and that every moment should be cherished and enjoyed.

'A Bunch of Amateurs' does all of the above whilst delivering some of the funniest scenes I've seen in a movie in years.

Had the privilege of attending the premiere of this wonderful film and meeting the cast/filmmakers. It brought me to tears, made me laugh hysterically & warmed my heart so much. Beautiful and truly full of passion for film. Colin and Harry are the stand out participants showing the real hardships of life alongside the true joy that a small club can bring. The family feel and the unity of a group coming together (even virtually throughout a pandemic) and supporting one another through bereavements, injuries and the harsh realities of poverty, caring for relatives & loneliness is felt more strongly here than I have ever seen, and it is real. I adored this film.