Rose Gold is an incredibly charming short film that beautifully encapsulates the essence of Manchester’s vibrant music scene, intertwined with themes of resilience, camaraderie and the human spirit.
Directed by Simon Powell (Girl Shaped Love Drug) and produced by Antony Crank (Coronation Street), it delivers a poignant narrative centred around Rose (Chloe Lea), a young girl grappling with the weight of responsibilities far beyond her years in the early 1990s Manchester.
At its core, the film is a testament to the power of music as a universal language that transcends barriers and brings people together. Rose’s journey sees her navigating the challenges of balancing school, a job and caring for her mother, who battles multiple sclerosis.
However, amidst the struggles, she finds solace and hope in the pulsating beats of 90’s house music.
The character of Rose is portrayed with remarkable depth and authenticity, thanks to a compelling performance by lead actress Lea, who also stars in the upcoming Dune: Sisterhood TV series and won a BAFTA at the impressive age of 13.
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Rose’s journey starts from a place of despair to one of empowerment and belonging, which is both heart-wrenching and inspiring at the same time.
The relationship with her grandmother, simply referred to as Nan (Julie Glover), adds another layer of emotional depth, that’ll have you welling up to belly laughing in an instant – highlighting the complexities of familial bonds in the face of adversity.
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Central to Rose’s transformation is her connection with Ian (Jordan Akkaya), a charismatic club DJ, and his eclectic circle of kindred spirits. Rose finds herself immersed in a world of freedom and self-expression, far removed from the confines of her daily struggles.
The togetherness depicted among the characters is palpable, serving as a poignant reminder of the community and solidarity the Manchester music scene created.
One of the film’s standout features is its electrifying soundtrack, which serves as the heartbeat of Manchester’s music scene.
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Seamlessly woven into the narrative, the pulsating rhythms of 90’s house music elevate the viewing experience, transporting audiences back in time to the euphoric dance floors of iconic clubs like the Hacienda.
Overall, Rose Gold is a triumph of storytelling seamlessly blending themes of resilience, music, and companionship into a captivating cinematic experience — a true testament to the enduring power of the human spirit to find light amidst darkness, and a love letter to the infectious spirit of Manchester.
While this is merely the short film rendition, Powell and Crank (who also plays Bernard) put across such a wave of relatable emotions even in the half-hour run-time, we’re beyond buzzing for what unfolds with this incredible story and characters that the cast and crew brought to life.
Bring on the feature film and keep your eyes peeled for when it drops. Oh, and yes sir, I can boogie!
Featured Images — 53 Degrees North – Film(supplied)
TV & Showbiz
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Will Mellor’s new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims airs tonight
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC documentary about real-life victims from the Post Office scandal fronted by Will Mellor is hitting TV screens tonight.
As the country finally starts to wake up to the full scale of the Post Office scandal – which involved the British postal service pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in an accounting software system between 1999 and 2015 – actor Will Mellor is on a mission to find out what happened to the real-life sub-postmasters in this new BBC documentary.
The Stockport-born actor famously played the part of Lee Castleton in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and says he feels a “real affinity” will the families he spoke to for the programme.
For the new documentary and accompanying five-part BBC Sounds podcast series – which is titled Surviving the Post Office – Will actually speaks to Mr Castleton himself, as well as four other affected people and their families whose lives have been “torn apart”.
Will Mellor has fronted a new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims / Credit: ITV
Surviving the Post Office ventures to all four corners of England, including East Yorkshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, and Cornwall, as Will discovers that many of the sub-postmasters want to “take back control of their lives”.
According to the BBC, for some facing the past, that proves to be a “troubling experience”, while for others, it ends up being a “liberating” step forwards.
As well as exploring the financial losses for many, including the people featured in the documentary and podcast series, Will also gets to find out how they are coping with their emotions, trying to move on from the whole ordeal, and how the victims are finding support in unexpected ways.
📢 Actor Will Mellor meets the real-life victims of the Post Office scandal in a brand new documentary from BBC Local
Surviving The Post Office is coming to @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer tonight at 8.30pm. The podcast series is on @BBCSounds now
“I feel a real affinity with these families, so it was a privilege to hear their stories for this documentary and podcast,” Will said ahead of the documentary airing on BBC One.
“What shocked me the most after meeting so many sub-postmasters is just how far the impact and trauma has spread – the effect it’s had on people’s health, their children, and their whole communities has been massive.”