A packed Manchester Town Hall played host to Monday’s premiere of an intimate and personal documentary on the life of the late politician Tony Benn.
The screening of Will and Testament, which is released in cinemas on October 8, was followed by a Q&A session with the film’s creators as well as the broadcaster Terry Christian.
Compiled using archive footage and a series of interviews with Mr Benn before his death, aged 88, earlier this year, the documentary charts the former Labour MP’s tumultuous political career as well as providing a never-before-seen glimpse into his personal life.
The film’s director, Skip Kite, addressed audience members after the credits rolled and said: “It was really Tony’s film. He wrote it, directed it, chose the archive.
“He knew his life was coming to an end and he wanted to leave something behind.”
Mr Benn, best known for his ardent socialist principles, served in the House of Commons for almost 50 years before becoming president of the Stop the War Coalition in his retirement.
Having served as a Labour minister during the 1960s and 70s, he fought passionately against Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative administration the strikes of the 80s and was reviled by the right-wing press.
However, after once being labelled ‘the most dangerous man in Britain’, his later years saw him become a national treasure.
Michael Miles, the film’s cinematographer said: “He was such a generous, lovely man – everywhere you went he would stop and talk to people. We had such an amazing time making the film with him.”
Will and Testament won the Audience Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June, and its composer Michel Duvoisin said: “What inspired me was Tony moving on from what he was used to and becoming one of the people.
“He gave up what he had come from and moved forward, which is what the world needs.”
Christian added: “He was always a politician who knew it was about the issues and not personalities – that seems to have been forgotten these days. It [the film] is a reminder for us – it beats you over the head with common sense.”
The film is continuing its town hall tour around the country, stopping in towns and cities that had a special significance to Benn’s life and career, before opening for general release next month.
Image courtesy of TonyBennfilm via YouTube with thanks
