Archive of films Oil City Confidential / Oil City Confidential

United Kingdom
2009, 106 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2010

A documentary about 1970s British rock band Dr. Feelgood as an original take on the social and cultural environment of the time. The film contains archive footage and reminiscences from the main players in an energetic piece which irreverently takes its place alongside Britain’s best music documentaries.

Synopsis

This film about the small-town British rock band Dr. Feelgood isn’t your ordinary music documentary. Director Julien Temple takes rock music not only as his main focus of interest, but also as a prism through which to examine the social and cultural environment of the 1970s. This is the third instalment of his famous trilogy about the British rock music scene and, as in its previous parts, here, too, everything is conveyed via Temple’s compelling cinematic language. Archive footage and reminiscences from the main players are edited alongside a meaty rhythm and shot in unusual, muted colours. The film maps out the history of a band with working-class roots and – chiefly through the recollections of charismatic lead guitarist Wilko Johnson – investigates the vibrant music scene of the day. The piece is characterised by its anarchic energy and takes its place irreverently alongside Britain’s best music documentaries.

About the director

Julien Temple (b. 1953, London) is a leading documentarist who has long been involved in the music scene. He created the film compilation which was screened during Sex Pistols concerts in the early days of their career. Temple also shot his feature-length documentary debut about this legendary band, The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle (1979). He became a sought-after director of music clips and has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Neil Young. He was the artist behind Rolling Stones Live at the Max (1991), the first feature-length concert film made specially for IMAX. Oil City Confidential is the third part of a music trilogy which also includes the films The Filth and the Fury (1999) about the Sex Pistols, and The Future Is Unwritten (2006) on Joe Strummer, also screened at KVIFF. He debuted in feature film with the musical Absolute Beginners (1986) starring David Bowie and Patsy Kensit.

Contacts

HanWay Films
8 Basing Street, W11 1ET, London
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 207 290 0750
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.hanwayfilms.com

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About the film

Color, HD CAM

Section:	Another View

Director:	Julien Temple
Dir. of Photography:	Stephen Organ
Music:	Dr. Feelgood
Editor:	Caroline Richards
Producer:	Stephen Malit
Production:	A Product of Malitsky
Cast:	Lee Brilleaux, Wilko Johnson, John Martin, John B. Sparks, Chris Fenwick
Contact:	HanWay Films