Exclusive: Kim Hopkins’ new documentary Still pushing pineapple After premiering at Sheffield Dockfest earlier this summer, the film will be distributed in the UK and Ireland by Tull Stories.
The film, distributed by Met Film Sales, will be released in theaters on November 28th by Tal Stories in association with Labor of Love Films, the production company that Hopkins runs with producer Margareta Szabo.
Still pushing pineapple The film tells the moving story of former novelty band Black Lace star Dean Michael, famous for singing the 1980s party hit “Agadoo,” which was once crowned the “worst song of all time.” Dean often dressed up as a giant fruit and performed his famous songs.
Now in his 60s, he can only perform to dwindling crowds in Britain’s declining clubs, but he relies most on his most ardent supporter, his 89-year-old mother Anne.
Hopkins describes his documentary as “an ode to resilience, but also to the joy, humor and spirit of ordinary working-class people in Britain in decline”.
In the film, Dean and his girlfriend Haley take their mother on an epic journey back to Benidorm, Spain in a van. There he regularly performed and it was there that he spent his happiest years.
Johnny Tull of Tull Stories commented on the acquisition: “This is a great movie filled with heart, guts and laughter. Dean’s story is one of determination in the face of the passage of time and the adversity he faced. This is a movie that Kim has carefully crafted and I can’t wait to get started.”
Director’s previous workamateur groupwon the audience award. Sheffield Dock Fest 2022. It was a tribute to the people behind Bradford Movie Makers, one of Britain’s oldest amateur film clubs.
group of amateurs and Still pushing pineapple These are part of a trilogy depicting the cultural life of the northern working class. Hopkins is already working on a third feature. The Localfocuses on life at The Jacob’s Well, a real ale pub in Bradford.
Still pushing pineapple The film was produced through Labor of Love Films in association with Tigerlily Two and One Wave Films. Szabo serves as producer along with co-producer Nan Davis. Executive producers are Nicky Parrott, Luke W. Moody, Mark Thomas, Dani Carlow, Keir Simpson, Kim Warner, Caroline Cooper Charles, and Herbert Lockwood.
The film was supported by Screen Scotland and also received support from the BFI Doc Society Fund, Screen Yorkshire and Ffilm Cymru Wales.
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