The Beat Is The Law

The Beat is the Law (80’s Special)

In the latter part of the 20th century Margaret Thatcher and her government radically changed the face of Britain. The main obstacle to this change centred around Sheffield, where the steel and coal industries were decimated after lengthy, ultimately unsuccessful union strikes.
As tens of thousands found themselves on the dole, a new music movement developed in abandoned industrial settings like The Leadmill and The Wicker, with bands like ClockDVA, Hula, Chakk and Pulp producing sounds that reflected a city on the brink.
Soon major record labels came courting, but found many of the most talented musicians unwilling to leave their beloved Sheffield.

Combining original interviews with Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley and other Sheffield natives with some unbelievable archive footage of the times, this is a fascinating introduction to 80s Britain. Through their personal stories, this feature documentary reveals the social and musical defiance of a city and its people – a resistance to a government’s ill treatment of a community, and a musical scene determined to resist the traditional models of the music industry.
A time when bands went out on a limb and the only rule was that there were no rules.

‘Whether you’re a Sheffield native or not, you’ll find this film a treat, and an insight to a Sheffield you might not ever have known existed.’ Sheffield Doc/Fest 2009

‘Compelling viewing, you don’t have to to be from Sheffield or necessarily a die hard music fan to appreciate it…’Adrian Carter, O20 London online magazine May 2009

‘The film expertly puts Sheffield back at the forefront of the great musical adventure in the fallout of punk … oh and it also comes with a great soundtrack.’ John Robb, Music Journalist/Commentator and Musician