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Backbeat
- Director: Iain Softley
- Writer: Iain Softley; Michael Thomas
- Producer: Paul Cowan; Sarah Curtis
CGiii Comment
A difficult one to pull off - Softley succeeds where many would fail.
There is none of the squeaky clean imagery that we were led to believe.
Lennon is anger and jealousy personified - played with a remarkable calm by Hart.
McCartney is the unlikeable - things have not changed.
There are strong hints that Lennon and Sutcliffe 'loved' each other...and, Softley keeps their secret - letting his audience make up their own minds.
Updating the music was a master-stroke and the authenticity of the time is preserved with a nostalgic eye.
A film that has a surprising amount of emotion.
A remarkable debut from Softley - he went onto make the exceptional K-Pax - a talented director indeed.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
A pre-fame Beatles head for the seedy clubs of Hamburg in search of success. The band meet up with a group of trendy German beatniks, one of whom (Astrid Kircherr) bass guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe falls in love with. Whilst best friend John Lennon can only watch, Sutcliffe has to choose between rock 'n roll and a new life in Germany.
Cast & Characters
Sheryl Lee as Astrid Kirchherr;
Stephen Dorff as Stuart Sutcliffe;
Ian Hart as John Lennon;
Gary Bakewell as Paul McCartney;
Chris O'Neill as George Harrison;
Scot Williams as Pete Best;
Kai Wiesinger as Klaus Voormann;
Jennifer Ehle as Cynthia Powell;
Marcelle Duprey as Singer;
John White as Sailor 1;
Bernard Merrick as Sailor 2;
Nicholas Tennant as Sailor 3;
Finola Geraghty as Model;
Rob Spendlove as Arthur Ballard;
Charlie Caine as Lord Woodbine