Morris: A Life With Bells On. Copyright: Twist Films Morris Ltd
Morris: A Life With Bells On

Morris: A Life With Bells On

  • 2009 film

Mockumentary film following the life of Derecq Twist and his love of Morris Dancing. Stars Charles Thomas Oldham, Greg Wise and Sir Derek Jacobi. Stars Charles Thomas Oldham, Derek Jacobi, Greg Wise, Ian Hart, Naomie Harris and more.

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2009
Stars
Charles Thomas Oldham, Derek Jacobi, Greg Wise, Ian Hart, Naomie Harris, Dominique Pinon, Sophie Thompson, Richard Lumsden and more
Writer
Charles Thomas Oldham
Director
Lucy Akhurst
Producers
Charles Thomas Oldham, Lucy Akhurst, Robert Markwick and Philip Hylander
Company

Morris dancing may not be the most fashionable way to throw shapes, but its century's-old traditions make it one of the most iconic folk traditions in the UK.

Morris: A Life With Bells On is a heartwarming feature length comedy film shot in documentary format. It follows the fortunes of one of the leading Morris teams in the country, Millsham Morris, and in particular its avant garde and enigmatic leader, Derecq Twist.

On the one hand Derecq is a traditionalist - when the film joins him he's preparing to perform the ultimate Morris Dance, the mystical and legendary Threepole Hammer Damson - and yet on the other, he is pioneering an innovative and daring freeform brand of dancing... Extreme Morris.

Innovation and invention doesn't sit well with the Morris establishment, and soon Derecq is thrown out of the Morris Circle - governing body of Morris dancing.

Now a beaten man, Derecq contemplates giving up Morris for good, until the producer of the documentary persuades him to go to LA and dance with the flamboyant Morris men of Orange County.

Derecq finds artistic freedom in Los Angeles, falls in love for the first time and then follows his heart to Iowa to start a new live with his beloved, Sonja.

However, life is rarely as simple as it is in the movies. Is Sonja's love enough to keep Derecq in America? Can he really face a life without Morris dancing? Or will the lack of real cider in the States finally push him over the edge?

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Additional details

UK certificate
12
Duration
100 minutes
UK release
Sunday 27th September 2009
Production
Studio
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
Most music composed by Richard Lumsden.

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Friday 2nd November 2012 at 7:00pm on Blighty
  • Friday 20th July 2012 at 8:00pm on Blighty
  • Monday 26th December 2011 at 1:00am on Blighty

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