Playing Away / Black Joy

Playing Away

A comedy of manners exploring white and black stereotypes from pioneering British filmmaker Horace Ové. When a West Indian cricket team from Brixton are invited to play a charity game in a small English village, members of both teams have their reservations.

When a West Indian cricket team from Brixton are invited to play a charity game in a small English village, members of both teams have their reservations. A weekend in the country away from the inner city produces unexpected results both on and off the field of play.

Playing Away subtly explores and undermines white and black stereotypes and succeeds in linking two familiar but strange cultures through the simple device of a cricket match. From pioneering British filmmaker Horace Ové (Pressure, 1975) comes this comedy of manners with an outstanding array of British talent on display, including Ross Kemp (EastEnders) and Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly) at the start of their careers, and a poignant performance by the brilliant Norman Beaton (Desmond’s).

Cast
Norman Beaton, Ross Kemp,Neil Morrissey

Director              
Horace Ove

UK | 1986 | 98 mins | 

Black Joy

Black Joy is a British culture-clash comedy with Trevor Thomas starring as a Guyanese youth who is under the delusion that life will be easier for him in London. No sooner does Thomas set foot in England than he gets tangled up in one disaster after another.

Cast:
Norman Beaton, Floella Benjamin Paul Medford, Oscar James, Dawn Hope & Trevor Thomas

Director:
Anthony Simmons

UK | 1977 | 97 mins | 

Featuring an amazing soul-reggae soundtrack which includes: Jimmy Helm, Johnny Nash, Shirley & Co, Billy Paul, Aretha Franklin, The Cimarons, Gladys Knight, The Drifters and The Three Degrees

"The film has a pace and energy not often seen in British movies" Time Out