Morris: A Life With Bells On [DVD] [2009]

If you are not a Morris dancer, or know what it is, this film is a wonderful yarn. But if you are, then you are in for a real treat. There has always been a struggle (conflict) between what the dance is and what those who chose to put in on paper said it was. Cecil Sharp was the first, and others followed. It may well be that Sharp and the latter day recorders "froze" the dance form. The overlords of the tradition will have the final say - right?"A life with bells on" follows the life of one champion dancer even as far as the Wild Side and back. It's a doco (or is it?) but there's more to it than pure recording of fact. Our hero, Derecq (a tractor mechanic) gets about as far from Morris traditions as they exist on the planet as he can - to California, falls in love, teams up with a drop dead gorgeous PR woman, eventually return to his birth right in south west England. And for all his deviation from the "rules" gets finally re-united with the tradition as he knocks of the door of his local pub, inexplicably shut after he has traveled from the USA.

The lack of a wider theatrical release was a scandal. From the moment Derecq Twist (Charles Thomas Oldham, who wrote the story) is seen dancing on the Cerne Abbas Giant and the camera pulls out to show the figure holding a hand across his crotch this was full of great humour both in the words and the visuals.Aidan McArdle plays the producer Jeremy, who breaks the golden rule of documentary - "I intervened". That's after Derecq is plunged into despair following his rustication from the Morris Circle. From its offices in the City of London, Chief Executive Quentin Neely (Derek Jacobi) defends the Englishness of Morris Dancing against such foreign influences as the Brazilian "morrizio".Manchester's Moss Side Morris are the reluctant enforcers of the Circle's dictates. They wear black but unfortunately don't have any black dancers, but Ian Hart as their "squire", Endeavour Hungerfjord Welsh, takes his duties seriously. Academic credibility on the history of Morris comes from Harriet Walter as Compton Chamberlayne, Emeritus Professor of International Folk Dance at Cambridge. You're never quite sure whether it's true history or absolute cobblers.The outrageously camp Orange County Morris in California give Derecq a refuge, and romantic interest from Sonja (Naomie Harris). Derecq follows her to her new job in Iowa where he's reduced to the "devil's dance" (line dancing, you can learn all the moves in ten minutes). The lure of the Morris (and the prospect of a pint of Onan's Revenge cider) takes him back to Dorset and redemption.There's just so much good stuff in this: a superb evocation of grief as well as the laughs, and a marvellous turn by Dominique Pinon as a French fisherman washed up on the Dorset shore after a storm, who decided to stay rather than go back to a million empty whelk shells.

I was in a morris side a bit like The Millsham Morris for 17 years (The Breinton Morris, Herefordshire) as Squire and Foreman for 15. And we had our run-ins with the Morris Ring (or Morris Circle in the film). In our case it was because we felt The Ring weren't upholding standards and we were the ultra-traditionalists! So I guess I watched this as an "insider". And I was very pleased by this portrayal of The Morris. OK it's not really a documentary and several liberties are taken. But enough rings true to make this film work.The film acknowledges the hard work and obsession that goes on behind the scene, to present The Morris to the sometimes appreciative public.Issues of tradition and innovation and standards are part of every folky discourse. It's great to see them aired here in this warmhearted film as Derecq Twist, tractor mechanic from Dorset, becomes a USA media star and has second thoughts.

I was brought up in a "Folk" family. My parents were (still are in fact) members of the EFDSS, we went to Folk Camps for our holidays, and for a few years my father was also a Morris dancer. I was therefore hoping to revisit some of my childhood memories!The film is well shot and the humour is gentle rather than hilarious. The Mocumentary format works well, but I think I was expecting to laugh a bit more.My family enjoyed it even though they have been completely spared the Folk experience. I think they identified with Dereque as a character. How my dyed-in-the-wool-traditionalist mother will react remains to be seen. I am sure she would agree with the description of Line Dancing as the Devil's Dance, but how well the very camp Orange County Morris Dancers will go down I am not sure.

Through our local South West Films media group I heard about MORRIS being shot and all the usual problems of getting financial support--------so I was delighted when my pre-ordered DVD from Amazon was delivered this week. What a lovely, offbeat funny film it is. I especially liked the original music and quirky Dorset style characters.When I worked in Devon back in the 70's my Boss was a Morris Dancer with a troup from Ottery-St-Mary which I use to follow around the village greens and pubs---------wonderful, energetic dancing. Viewing MORRIS brought all the goodtimes back to me. I think it should have concluded with the modern rap version as per LA to make it more attractive to younger people-----but anyway the film deserves a CULT FOLLOWING which I'm sure it will get. Tell your friends to buy the DVD!!