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- Public Domain
Swansea Love Story
Must See
A harrowing documentary about life and love (of sorts) on the bleak streets of the South Wales city.
Swansea Love Story is no Romeo & Juliet story transferred from the streets of Verona to those of South Wales, no matter what the name might suggest. Instead, filmmaking duo Andy Capper
and Leo Leigh provide us with a staggering documentary that attempts to get under the skin of a small selection of the many drug addicts living in the city.
The Love Story of the title relates most obviously to Cornelius and Amy, a homeless, alcoholic, heroin addict couple at the heart of the film. When Amy remarks early on to her loved one that
âweâve had some hard times, havenât we?â, she does so in a way that neatly summarises the hopeless destitution these people face. Her life story is one of numerous hardships that could be
described in much stronger, harsher terms than âsome hard times,â but thatâs all they are to Amy.
The Love Story extends further, though. The devotion the subjects of the film have for their drugs of choice is, in most cases, unbreakable. They are in fact no longer drugs of choice but of
necessity. Equally, the Love Story speaks of Swansea itself; a city no longer riding high on the waves of industrialisation, as the elder statesmen of the mines and working mens clubs talk us
through the highs and lows of their beloved hometown.
As raw and unflinching as the film is, it is this pervading sense of affection that moves the film out of the realms of relentless bleakness. To sustain such a mood for the duration would turn the
work into an unwatchable parable, but low crew numbers and uncomplicated vérité camerawork allow the humanity of the addicts to shine through. The subjects of the film are not characterised
solely by their addictions: they are as fallible as any human beings, and they deserve our attention as such.
Whether it be the strange painting of a wizard hanging in the Special Brew can-filled front room of Corneliusâs sister, the deep and passionate love for Swansea City F.C that hopeful-reformer
Dennis sings about in his blood-splattered new flat, or the incongruous box of Sugar Puffs that sits on the shelf behind âThe Famous Clint,â it is these tiny details that colour their world in and
show us that, despite what statistics or tabloid coverage might sometimes tell us, these people should not be demonised.
The beauty of Leigh and Capperâs film lies in itâs simplicity, making it clear that to cast these people aside would be pure folly. Swansea Love Story is socially-aware filmmaking of a very high
standard which deserves an audience not only because of its sensitive portrayal of a topic so often reduced to newspaper bylines, but because of the undeniable quality of craft and compassion
shown by these relatively unknown filmmakers.
Must See
A harrowing documentary about life and love (of sorts) on the bleak streets of the South Wales city.
Swansea Love Story is no Romeo & Juliet story transferred from the streets of Verona to those of South Wales, no matter what the name might suggest. Instead, filmmaking duo Andy Capper
and Leo Leigh provide us with a staggering documentary that attempts to get under the skin of a small selection of the many drug addicts living in the city.
The Love Story of the title relates most obviously to Cornelius and Amy, a homeless, alcoholic, heroin addict couple at the heart of the film. When Amy remarks early on to her loved one that
âweâve had some hard times, havenât we?â, she does so in a way that neatly summarises the hopeless destitution these people face. Her life story is one of numerous hardships that could be
described in much stronger, harsher terms than âsome hard times,â but thatâs all they are to Amy.
The Love Story extends further, though. The devotion the subjects of the film have for their drugs of choice is, in most cases, unbreakable. They are in fact no longer drugs of choice but of
necessity. Equally, the Love Story speaks of Swansea itself; a city no longer riding high on the waves of industrialisation, as the elder statesmen of the mines and working mens clubs talk us
through the highs and lows of their beloved hometown.
As raw and unflinching as the film is, it is this pervading sense of affection that moves the film out of the realms of relentless bleakness. To sustain such a mood for the duration would turn the
work into an unwatchable parable, but low crew numbers and uncomplicated vérité camerawork allow the humanity of the addicts to shine through. The subjects of the film are not characterised
solely by their addictions: they are as fallible as any human beings, and they deserve our attention as such.
Whether it be the strange painting of a wizard hanging in the Special Brew can-filled front room of Corneliusâs sister, the deep and passionate love for Swansea City F.C that hopeful-reformer
Dennis sings about in his blood-splattered new flat, or the incongruous box of Sugar Puffs that sits on the shelf behind âThe Famous Clint,â it is these tiny details that colour their world in and
show us that, despite what statistics or tabloid coverage might sometimes tell us, these people should not be demonised.
The beauty of Leigh and Capperâs film lies in itâs simplicity, making it clear that to cast these people aside would be pure folly. Swansea Love Story is socially-aware filmmaking of a very high
standard which deserves an audience not only because of its sensitive portrayal of a topic so often reduced to newspaper bylines, but because of the undeniable quality of craft and compassion
shown by these relatively unknown filmmakers.
Reviews
Reviewer:
lauraalittle
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 22, 2014
Subject: A Far Cry from "How Green Was My Valley"
Subject: A Far Cry from "How Green Was My Valley"
Cry is exactly what I did while watching this film. The waste of human energy and talent as it is shown here is terribly sad. Drug addiction is commonplace, but that doesn't make the impact on individuals any less tragic. People need jobs. They need decent wages. Without these families and communities break apart. To work in the mines must've been very hard. Yet there was dignity in it. I blame the greedy captains of big business for this awful end result. I fear we in the US as well as those who live in the UK are in danger of accepting drug abuse and despair as somehow an inevitable or even normal part of our social make up. Perhaps this documentary will help to stir us out of passivity and into some sort of localized activism.
Reviewer:
chris_hc
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 27, 2010
Subject: Fantastic
Subject: Fantastic
This is a really good film, because the topics of it and the individuals in it are crazy. That said, it is great because all of this goes on right between your eyes, ireespective of what you think or say. I have been a heroin addict, moreso than anyone seen, I used to use over £1500 every week.
That is all I am going to say about my understanding of it, since everyone in this story is retarded. So as far as teh individuals who make thousands out of drugs go, are they retarded too?
Yes. Undeniably so.
The way this ends, and all of it, is very funny, and the commonality of the nuts individuals is good to.
That is all I am going to say about my understanding of it, since everyone in this story is retarded. So as far as teh individuals who make thousands out of drugs go, are they retarded too?
Yes. Undeniably so.
The way this ends, and all of it, is very funny, and the commonality of the nuts individuals is good to.
Reviewer:
Cayo!
-
-
February 24, 2010
Subject: swansea
Subject: swansea
Yes this documentary is filmed about the problems in this city, but what everyone tends to forget is the fact that the UK itself has a problem with heroin on the streets. Use this as an example and dont dare bother mark swansea as such a bleak city. Yes there are many problems that occur in this city just like everywhere else, its just more easier to notice as the city is so small compared to other cities across the UK. There are small hand fulls of low lifes in this city i must admit but have you noticed throughout the documentary it only focuses on around 6 people. What thats 6 people out of thousands. I wouldn't say that swansea has a massive problem with the use of heroin on the streets compared to other citys in the UK. Look at some of the cities in england. Try filming the addicts in some of them cities, you would probably get attacked by them all! I totally agree that its disgusting with the drug problem that revolves around these peoples lives but this is not swansea as a whole! Amy was in my classes as a child back at school. She is only 1 person that i can name from back at my school that has turned out like this. Many of the people that i grew up with are now in college or in university like myself at college. I am not defending her but i hate the way people use swansea as an example of being a city which is run down and full of troublesome alcoholics or drug addicts. For fuck sake look at our football team and rugby team, the ospreys and swansea city fc. We're flying high in the championship, currently achieving more than the capital cardiff. The ospreys squad include most of the entire welsh international squad which has been very successful in recent years with tournaments. Many of these talented sportsmen have grown up in swansea and achieved everything they have wanted.
Also swansea in the early years have produced many successful music artists and actors. Actors such as Rhys Ifans who is a very successful actor not only in the UK but america look at films such as Little Nicky with Adam Sandler. Rhys starred in twin town our film set in swansea in the 90's. Crime rates have decreased and still are decreasing over the years which shows the improvement of this city. Years ago the drug addictions of many people affected the city a lot but the city has been improving really fast. So for fuck sake do not make this city out to be a profound nightmare unless anyone can tell me that their city has none of these issues. Anyway i should hope the documentary touch many people and help people realise the problem within the UK overall.
Also swansea in the early years have produced many successful music artists and actors. Actors such as Rhys Ifans who is a very successful actor not only in the UK but america look at films such as Little Nicky with Adam Sandler. Rhys starred in twin town our film set in swansea in the 90's. Crime rates have decreased and still are decreasing over the years which shows the improvement of this city. Years ago the drug addictions of many people affected the city a lot but the city has been improving really fast. So for fuck sake do not make this city out to be a profound nightmare unless anyone can tell me that their city has none of these issues. Anyway i should hope the documentary touch many people and help people realise the problem within the UK overall.
