Morris: A Life with Bells On

This film takes a very offbeat and affectionate view of a folk-dancing tradition in England that is under threat of disappearing. I very much hope that this amusing and endearingly eccentric movie will raise public awareness of Morris dancing in England. The tension between preserving an old, "sacred" tradition and desiring to experiment and innovate is delightfully caught in a clever script and plot. Charles Thomas Oldham turns in an excellent performance as Derecq Twist, the eccentric leader of a Dorset Morris dance side whose daring experiments outrage the leader of the Morris Circle - Quentin Neely - played by Sir Derek Jacobi. One of this dancing side is a Frenchman, Jean-Baptiste (played by Dominique Pinon) and even the French language scenes are beautifully scripted. When the film jumps to California (a California filmed entirely in England), we meet a tremendously funny plot twist. Henceforth Derecq does for Morris dancing what Michael Flatley did for Riverdance. When I saw the film, the cinema was packed with Morris Dancers who were universally delighted with the jokes, the poignancy of some moments in the film and the general joie de vivre that the film conveys. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. It deserves to become a cult classic. Thank you Lucy Akhurst for a wonderful night at the cinema.

I'm not entirely sure what the reason for this film being made was, but in short, it shouldn't have been made.

There are many reasons I wouldn't recommend this film, the main ones being are that firstly, the plot is tedious and predictable - it seems that no effort has been made to create an interesting narrative or use interesting dramatic devices that keep you drawn throughout the film.

Secondly, the script is not particularly funny, quirky, or imaginative. Although I acknowledge the fact that the film is set in the west country, the actors all have very wooden, stereotypical west country accents - reminiscent of 'The Wurzels' (which of course, is not funny in 2010) Thirdly, in addition to 'having a laugh' over the west country accent, the rest of this film to me simply not funny. I like to think that I have a fairly varied and open sense of humour, but I did not laugh once in this film, let alone a snigger.

The reason for this, I can only hypothesise as follows - This film is evidently trying to be a 'Spinal Tap' of Morris Dancing. Based on the mocumentary style, this film is clearly trying to create humour from the Morris Dancing culture - but instead of cleverly parodying this culture, it seems to have only represented this culture fairly close to the truth (not even in an observational style). Evidently the makers of this film knew quite a lot about the Morris Dancing culture, and are very possibly part of this culture themselves. Here, they obviously didn't want to poke too much fun at Morris Dancing, at the fear of disapproval from that very culture. Here it is obvious that the main target audience of this film is Morris Dancers and those involved in the Folk culture; the makers couldn't risk offending their main target audience now could they.

So as a result, this film would only be understood by those in the culture associated, and even then, there isn't much to laugh about.

Morris Dancers and 'Folkies': If you intend on convincing yourself that this film is funny just because it is about Morris Dancers, please think twice. Non-Morris Dancers or 'Folkies': Don't bother yourself with this film. There are too many references you will not recognise, and even if you did, they aren't funny.

Great movie, hilarious,especially if you are an Anglophile. The actors do great characterizations. The scenes are well shot, especially those depicting California. The movie was well accepted by the Morris dance and folk-dance community at the Seattle Folklife festival and the Seattle International Film Festival. We need to see more Morris dancing like that done by the OCM. If you enjoy folk dance you must see this film. If you enjoy England you must see this film. If you enjoy laughing you must see this film.This film is a mocumentery in the tradition of This Is SpinalTap, and A Mighty Wind. This is all filler, the movie was shot in the wettest summer in england, on a low budget. The film makers did wonders in poor conditions and with little to work with.

Pleasantly surprised by this quirky English film

The same type of film as spinal tap but it has to be said I preferred this ,

Fun look at the idiosyncrasies of English life.

..this low-budget flick. Odd that the only negative review here criticises the makers for 'knowing their subject too well'. OK, getting laughs at the expense of the quirky and idiosyncratic people that are attracted to Morris is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel but the makers carry it off with aplomb without resulting to crude stereotypes. Perhaps those outside of Old Albion may struggle to grasp the strangeness of the Morris Folk tradition but these types do exist. On any Sunday, somewhere in England, in a pub car park, or on some village green, or some festival stage, Morris dancers will be merrily twirling their hankies and drinking ale from pewter tankards. It's not mainstream, but it is an important part of British culture. Morris is possibly the only indigenous folk tradition that has survived the last 1000yrs recognisable today in it's present form and it's a joy that there is a film of this calibre that celebrates it. (I'm not a Morris dancer - I'm Scottish, but I loved 'Morris: A Life with Bells On')

A beautifully shot, intrinsically funny film, the appearances of Sir Derek, Dominique Pinon and Ian Hart in this humble little movie should tell you all you need to know - watch it.