The Scar
Amber Films 1997
Like many women who were active during the miner's strike, it is May Murton (Charlie Hardwick) who has been left to clean up the mess. The failure of her marriage and the disintegration of her community have shattered both her personal and political beliefs. Her teenage children, Dale and Becky, (Darren Bell and Katja Roberts) are increasingly out of control, and her estranged husband Tony ( Brian Hogg) has flown the nest to take up residence in the allotments perched high above the town. Tony views the town from above, realizing what has been lost, but, like many former miners, stripped of the capacity to re-engage with a society which has treated him so cruelly.
May attends a reunion of women activists. It is the night before the Miners' Gala and they are going to let their hair down at the local rock 'n' roll dance. Also heading for the same venue is Roy Cotton (Bill Speed), the recently arrived manager of an open cast coal mine which the 'free enterprise' culture has fostered as a replacement for the traditional mining communities. Although he is from a mining background himself, at 17 he ‘got on his bike’ and has never looked back. In political and cultural terms, Roy is regarded as the ‘enemy’. When he asks May to dance, he is unaware of the effect it will have on both of their lives. Roy does not understand what he is getting himself into. For May, the conflict he engenders proves to be the catalyst to rekindle her lost belief.
The Scar has its roots in work done during the 1984 miners' strike. Amber worked with women's support groups in the region, one of which was in Easington, County Durham. In 1994 Amber produced, in conjunction with a community services project, the video, It’s the Pits, examining the problems of young people in the East Durham pit villages in the aftermath of the closure of the industry in that area. One of these villages was Easington. Links with the women's group from 10 years earlier were re-established, and a process of examining the experience of that community in the intervening period, as well as the tensions in families, the perceived alienation of the young, and the economic consequences on families of industrial decline. This formed the starting point for the script of The Scar. At all stages the local people were involved. They shared their experiences and discussed the script with Amber. Some were employed during production as set decorators and technical assistants, and groups were brought in for consultation during the editing process.
The film was the first in what became Amber’s coalfield trilogy. Like Father (2001) explores male experience in the aftermath of pit closure; Shooting Magpies (2005) looks at the post-industrial generation and the impacts of heroin in the colliery villages of East Durham.
AMBER FILMS
Made with the financial assistance of BBC.
Location
Easington District, Sedgefield District, Durham City & Weardale, Co Durham
Credits
THE AMBER PRODUCTION TEAM
Conceived, written, produced, directed, photographed and edited by Amber:
Richard Grassick
Ellin Hare
Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Murray Martin
Pat McCarthy
Lorna Powell
Peter Roberts
Annie Robson
Geoff Scott
Commissioning Editor BBC: Tessa Ross
Script Consultant: Roger Hyams
ASSISTED BY
Sound Recordist: Elaine Drainville
Camera Assistant: Lynda Robinson
Continuity: Lisa Jones
Art Director: Irena Pietruszka
Co-editor: Irina Hoss
Avid Editor: David Hindmarsh
Avid Assistant: Colin Bone
Choreographer: Lynn Silmon
Catering: Rosie's Cafe and Krew Cuisine
Set Design: Unstoppables
Security: DJ
MUSIC
Original Music composed and arranged: Joe Armstrong, Graham Raine
Musical Director: Joe Armstrong
Musicians: Joe Armstrong, Bridget Enever, Graham Raine
Rave music: Stephen Wilson
Recording studio: Off Beat Tracks
Archive material: Jimmy Johnson, Amber
1984 speech original: Heather Wood
FINANCE
Developed with financial assistance from the Northern Production Fund
Part financed by the European Community (European Regional Development Fund)
Commissioned by the BBC
Cast
May Murton: Charlie Hardwick
Roy Cotton: Bill Speed
Becky Murton: Katja Roberts
Dale Murton: Darren Bell
Tony Murton: Brian Hogg
Belle Murton: Madeleine Moffat
Jenny: Amber Styles
Groppa: Stephen Gee
Tracy: Alexis Elliott
Opencast foreman: Ray Stubbs
Old Man. Harry Herring
Bill Rowland: Colin MacLachlan
Andy Coates: Roger Hyams
Waitress: Anna Maria Gascoigne
Lout at gala: Peter Harrison
Barman: Jimmy Kilheen
'Billy': Blue Checked Cock NEHU95 SED 10:58.
The Band: The Graduates
Stunt performer: Rob Bellingham
Radio presenter: Graham Raine
Newscaster: Donald McBride
AS THEMSELVES
Heather Wood
Marilyn Johnson
Margaret Foster
Joan Wilkinson
Jackie Leathers
Isobel Parkin
Richard Pallister
John Wilson
Joey Storey
Mick Ramshaw
Ropper Robinson
Terry Craddock
Craig Sauter
Emma Pygall
Nancy McManus
Myrtle MacPherson
Mary Bell
Michael Cathrine
Fiona Campbell
Russell Robson
Leanne Stoves
Laura Wolfe
Paula Wells
Leslie Knight
Kevin Wells
Christine Wells
Lyn Higgins
Peter McCarthy
Roger Powell
Keywords
Coal, Community, Durham, Industry, Jobs, Miners' Strike, North East, Unemployment, Opencast, Easington, Support Group, Women, Gala, Big Meeting
Reviews and Awards
Arts Event of the Year, Northern Electric Arts Awards (1997)
Prix Europa Special Prize: TV Fiction (1998)
Silver Nymph, Best Actress, Monte Carlo TV Festival (1998)
Trades Union Award, Emden, Germany (1998)
REVIEWS
The film is both funny and affecting. The acting has an honesty and truth. David Isaacs, Northern Review
A modern day Romeo and Juliet... One of the strengths of The Scar - and it has many - is that it uses local people to add a sense of realism and many familiar faces from East Durham can be seen amongst the cast. Bernice Saltzer, Hartlepool Mail
Terrific naturalistic performances, sharp socio-political contextualisation - an affectionate but never sentimental respect for working-class life. Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Nobody can fail to be moved by the main character... Sunday Times
Surely one of the most unusual locations for a romantic encounter... The atmosphere of the film is delicately balanced - by turns grim and delightful. Sunday Telegraph
Evoked in strong and authentic detail, two-middle-aged people fall in love... a human story... one which digs deep into the emotions, as a conflict between old and new Labour. The Times
A subtle piece of work with some superb cinematography and a particularly fine performance from Charlie Hardwick. David Whetstone, The Journal
The Scar is a drama of enormous importance. Tony Benn
Magnificently acted love story set in a desolate coal-mining town ... the country's growing pains are portrayed with excruciating exactitude. The relationship which embodies those strains is a love affair ... two proud working-class Britons now in their 50s .... the movie also shows them to be soulmates who share a salty humor and a fondness for 1950s show tunes. Stephen Holden, The New York Times
Associated Work
RELATED WORK:
Peaceable Kingdoms, photographic exhibition by Peter Fryer documenting allotments in Newcastle upon Tyne. Follow the link to see a free online presentation.
It's The Pits (Amber Films, 1995, AV/ITP), video documentary about the lack of youth facilities in East Durham.
Like Father (Amber Films, 1997, AF/TSC), the second of the feature dramas that are referred to as 'The Coalfield Trilogy', exploring the post-pit closure lives of men.
Shooting Magpies (Amber Films, 2005), the third of the feature dramas that are referred to as 'The Coalfield Trilogy', exploring the impact of heroin in the ex-pit villages of East Durham.
Durham Coalfield, photographic exhibition by John Davies, documenting the working Durham coalfield in 1983. Follow the link to a free online presentation.
Easington: A Mining Village, photographic exhibition by Bruce Rae, documenting Easington on the eve of the Miners' Strike in 1984.
Easington, August 1984, documenting the community at the height of the Miners' Strike.
Where Are We Going? and News From Durham (Amber Films, 1983, AV/WAW and AV/NFD), video documentaries exploring the issues behind the looming confrontation of the Miners Strike. There is also research footage associated with this work.
Why Support the Miners? (Amber Films, 1984, AV/WSM), video 'trigger tape', pilot for the Workshop Movement's Miners' Campaign Tapes.
Can't Beat It Alone (Amber Films 1985, AV/CBI), video documentary exploring the links between the Miners' Support Groups, the Peace Camp at Greenham Common and anti-nuclear campaigners in Billingham and at Druridge Bay in Northumberland. It features the original speech by Heather Wood that was reconstructed for The Scar. There is also research footage associated with this work.
For a monthly changing selection of films and videos by Amber and its friends, visit www.sidetv.net.
For more information about Amber and its film and photographic work, visit www.amber-online.com