''New Town Utopia'' is a 2018 documentary feature film about the British new town experiment. It is an alternative social history of the Essex town of Basildon, including interviews and performances from artists, poets and musicians of the town.

Plot

The poetic narrative of the film explores topics including: the flawed utopian ambition of post-war planning and design, social housing and the impact of Thatcher's right-to-buy policy; the neglect of creative and cultural facilities by national and local government; and the demonisation of working-class people by the British media.

Release

''New Town Utopia'' was released theatrically the UK on 4 May 2018. It was directed by British filmmaker Christopher Ian Smith and executive produced by Margaret Matheson ( ''Scum'', '' Sid and Nancy'', ''Sleep Furiously''). It features actor

Jim Broadbent James Broadbent (born 24 May 1949) is an English actor. He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his supporting role as John Bayley in the feature film ''Iris'' (2001), as well as winning a BAFTA TV Award and a Golden Globe for hi ...

( ''Iris'', '' Topsy-Turvy'', '' Moulin Rouge!'') as the voice of Lewis Silkin MP. Hippy Joe Hymas of the band

Hayseed Dixie Hayseed Dixie is an American band formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2000. Their first album was ''A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC''. The band performs bluegrass cover versions of hard rock songs and also original songs of a mostly satirical or absu ...

also features.

Reception

It was well received by critics and audiences. It has Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. '' The Guardian'''s Peter Bradshaw called it an "Unapologetically upbeat film in which utopianism is taken unexpectedly seriously. Absorbing and heartening." '' The Times'' review said it was "Consistently fascinating, unfolds like a warning from history'.

Cast

*Terry Bird *

Vincent O'Connell Vincent O'Connell is a British filmmaker and writer of films, theatre, television and radio drama. His films as director include the 1995 film ''Skin'', starring Ewen Bremner, written by Sarah Kane, and his 2000 film, ''Beyond the Boundary'', which ...

*Joe Morgan *Ralph Dartford *Sue Ryder Paget *Mike Parker *Kath Joyce-Banks *Shaun Badham *Vin Harrop *Penny Betteridge *Rob Marlow *Tim Williams *Pat Joyce *Stuart Brown *Phil Burdett *Richard Lee *Richard Hawkins *Marc Barnacle *Ölmo Lazarus *Steve Waters *Barry Hayes * ”Hippy” Joe Hymas

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, tt3424722
New Town Utopia on Rotten Tomatoes
British documentary films 2018 documentary films 2018 films 2010s English-language films 2010s British films