Shed Your Tears and Walk Away

Synopsis: Filmmaker Jez Lewis grew up in the small town of Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire. Hebden Bridge has a reputation as a home to artists and is a popular destination for tourists with a bohemian outlook, but Lewis sensed there was another side to his old home town after making repeated trips back to attend funerals. As Lewis got in touch with his old friend Cass to ask questions about life in Hebden Bridge, he learned a startling lesson about life among the town’s full-time residents. Drug and alcohol abuse is rampant there, with Cass an apt and tragic example -- his doctor has said he has two years to live if he can’t quit drinking, but he still spends his days with fellow alcoholics drinking beer in the park. One resident calls Hebden Bridge "a drug town with a tourist problem," and though those with the strength and the means move away (like Lewis), those left sink even deeper into depression, and some who can no longer numb their pain and emptiness turn to suicide. Lewis explores the tragedy of Hebden Bridge and paints a sombre but compassionate portrait of the people who live there.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2011
Year of production: 2009
Subjects: Social Studies; Social welfare
Keywords: addiction; alcohol abuse; drug abuse; social anthropology; social geography; young people; social issues

Director

Jez Lewis

Producer

Nicholas Broomfield

Cast

Rachel Wexler

Name: Verve Pictures
Email: contactviva@vivaverve.com
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Notes: Verve Pictures is an independent UK specialist film distributor, with particular emphasis on British and independent films. As an off-shoot of Verve, Drakes Avenue Pictures distributes independent films on DVD, with a special interest in contemporary arthouse and foreign films. A companion website http://www.vervepics.com/ also gives details of current and past releases. Sale direct or via retail outlets.

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