Hunky Dory (film)

Plot

Set in a Welsh comprehensive school during the summer of 1976, keen drama teacher Vivienne fights general teenage apathy to put on a glam rock musical version of Shakespeare's *The Tempest *of which David Bowie (whose album provides the name of the film) might be proud.

To engage her totally lackadaisical students and get them to explore and express their emotions, Vivienne uses pop hits of the time performed by a fresh young cast led by Davey. She hopes her more liberal approach to learning might stir them to discover they could be good at something, once they let their inhibitions go, and might actually have fun creating something; they might even absorb some of the dreaded Shakespeare after all.

Vivienne's aspirations appear thwarted by her troublesome students who, raging with hormones, get up to various antics that seem destined to sabotage the musical. She also faces opposition from traditionally-minded, old-fashioned teaching staff, making getting the show to opening night a constant challenge.

When a frustrated student sets fire to the school auditorium destroying the stage and the sets, the show is cancelled by the headmaster, who was to play Prospero. A side plot involves conflict between Vivienne's liberalism and the attitudes of her long-standing opponents on the staff, centering on discovering which "delinquent" student was responsible for the arson.

Deflated, but ultimately unwilling to chart this mishap or her role as "music teacher" as yet another thing she's failed at, Vivienne persuades the headmaster to allow the production to move to an outdoor setting. Her production is a triumph, much enjoyed by both the students and the audience.

The film ending features a photo-montage of what became of each student after leaving school. Vivienne had remained as music teacher, directing a school play every year until retirement.

Cast

• Minnie Driver as Vivienne
• Aneurin Barnard as Davey
• Owen Teale as Davey's Dad
• Danielle Branch as Stella
• Robert Pugh as Headmaster
• Haydn Gwynne as Mrs Valentine
• Steve Speirs as Mr Cafferty
• Aled Pugh as Tim
• Julia Perez as Sylvie
• Kimberley Nixon as Vicki Munro
• Tom Rhys Harries as Evan
• Kristian Gwilliam as Hoople/ Andy Dixon
• Kayleigh Bennett as Dena Davies
• Jodie Davis as Mandy
• George MacKay as Jake Zeppi
• Adam Byard as Lewis Munro
• David Garner as Mac
• Gemma Perry as Art Girl

References

References

1. "Hunky Dory".
2. "It's All Hunky Dory as Graduates Come Home". rwcmd.ac.uk.
3. "Hunky Dory premiere at London Film Festival". soundonsight.org.
4. "Film Review: Hunky Dory (2012)". fadedglamour.co.uk.
5. "Hunky Dory". independentfilmcompany.com.