FILM - Passport to Liverpool: A City on the Edge, Philharmonic Hall

Apr 22 2008 by Peter Grant, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool Poet, Singer, Songwriter, Jegsy Dodd _320

LIVERPOOL film premieres are emotional screenings, mainly because there is so much passion on screen and in the audience as the fruits of hard labours are there for all to see and to be proud of.

Last year, Cunard Yanks was celebrated in style.

Passport to Liverpool, from Bright Moon Films, had its gala premiere on the magnificent big screen.

No big names, no soap celebrities on screen, but simply starring the “people of Liverpool” – real salt-of-the-earth Scousers – all at ease in front of camera. Produced by Roger Appleton and Dave Cotterill this film asks: why is Liverpool so different to other English cities?

Local poet Jegsy Dodd introduced the evening with a wonderfully “patriotic” poem.

Liverpool, we were then told by academics, retired dockers, politicians and real characters has its own unique identity. Liverpudlians are independent with a questioning attitude – never accepting anything at face value.

We also followed an ACL container ship on a journey to the Gladstone Dock featuring some stunning night-time photography.

And there was a marvellous Mersey mix of anecdotes from the Liverpool community who loved standing up for the city they love.

The film featured Professor John Belchem, from the University of Liverpool, who has a great knack of making the complex accessible.

Bright Moon Films should be proud of this film.

With a little more post-production work, it would sit well on national TV, certainly the regional output.