Heart of Steel

Sheffield, South Yorkshire—England's own steel city—famed for its industrial heritage, its iconic music scene, and, of course, its Henderson's Relish has also had its fair share of influence in the world of film. Sheffield cinema spans a range of different themes unique to their eras. From strip teases to terrorism and telekinesis to trains, this seemingly bizarre mix of topics is held together by shared political undertones and a strong cultural identity. Here are six of Sheffield's finest:

'The Full Monty'

Perhaps the most popular of the mix is the Peter Cattaneo comedy The Full Monty, and understandably so, given the fact it was a major critical success and grossed over $250 million. It has since been adapted into both a musical and a play.

Although filmed in 1997, the story is set in 1970s Sheffield and focuses on the plight of six unemployed men—four of whom are former steel workers—as they take the city by storm with their male striptease act. It surpasses the requirements of the average comedy film by depicting more serious issues, such as mental health and homosexuality, while perfectly encapsulating working class culture in a way that is not at all degrading or offensive.

'Four Lions'

Although the prospect of a film that makes light of terrorism may not instantly strike one as being particularly tasteful, Chris Morris's 2010 satirical dark comedy Four Lions actually proved to be highly popular. It was also met by a wealth of positive reviews from critics and was generally applauded for its degradation of extremism.

Following the pursuit of a homegrown terrorist group in their attempt to become suicide bombers, the film uses sites and landmarks that are instantly recognizable to a local audience, adding a greater sense of reality. The Meadowhall shopping mall is one such location, with other sites having been popularized by the film, itself.

'Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?'

Although South Yorkshire's influence on Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? might seemingly have been limited to the broad regional dialects and Sheffield/Doncaster filming locations, it still recreates a sense of nostalgia that any Sheffielder can relate to.

Set in the 1970s, this unconventional love story follows protagonist Vince Smith in his efforts to woo his colleague, Joanna, who happens to be an undercover punk—allowing the film to explore the sub-cultures of the era. All the while in the background, Vince's father (who gives his name to the film's title) takes the country by storm with his psychic abilities.

'Looks and Smiles'

Based on the Barry Hines novel of the same name, Ken Loach's 1981 drama Looks and Smiles was shot entirely on location in Sheffield. The black-and-white feature won Loach the Young Cinema Award at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. Despite this, it received some harsh criticism, particularly from across the pond, with the New York Times commenting that "a great deal of the dialogue remains unintelligible to the American ear."

Despite his accomplishments, Loach considered the film a failure as it didn't "create the outrage in the audience that should have been there." His frustration is understandable, considering that the plot focuses on the depression that shrouded the industrial north during Margaret Thatcher's reign of terror.

'The Navigators'

Another contribution from the iconic Ken Loach comes in the form of 2001's The Navigators. Again, the film was largely met with critical success, and screenwriter Rob Dawber posthumously won a BAFTA award for his contribution.

Playing on a more direct sense of political frustration, the film takes inspiration from the failure of the Connex South Central and Connex South Eastern British train operating companies. Following the struggles of five Sheffield rail workers throughout the privatization of their maintenance organisation, the film is able to capture a more profound sense of dissatisfaction that was evidently not picked up on in the preceding Looks and Smiles.

Final Thoughts

Sheffield is a city whose cultural significance runs much deeper than its production of Henderson's Relish, and that is reflected in its cinematic contributions. Riddled with an overwhelming sense of community spirit and overwrought with deeply complex political themes and undertones, these films are united by their honorable desire to speak out for what they believe in. They have the ability to make anyone feel immensely proud, whether they be a Sheffielder or not.

What's your favourite film to have come out of the Steel City?