The Spirit of 45

The Spirit of 45

The Spirit of ‘45 (PG)

Director: Ken Loach
Starring: Ray Davies, Dr. Julian Tudor-Hart, Tony Benn
UK, 2013, 1 hour 38 minutes

1945 was a pivotal year in British history. The unity that carried Britain through the war allied to the bitter memories of the inter-war years led to a vision of a better society. The spirit of the age was to be our brother’s and our sister’s keeper. Loach has created a rich political and social narrative using archive film of the period and contemporary interviews with those who remember those times, such as ex-Miner Ray Davies from Caerphilly and pioneering Valleys GP, Dr. Julian Tudor-Hart. This celebrates a period of unprecedented community spirit in the UK, the impact of which endured for many years and whose towering achievements such as the NHS are again under threat today.

This is a special one off nationwide satellite screening event that will be followed by a Q&A panel discussion with director, Ken Loach.

Panellists joining Ken will include comedian Jeremy Hardy as host, Owens Jones (writer and author of Chavs) and Dot Gibson, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention.

‘Roedd 1945 yn flwyddyn holl-bwysig yn hanes Prydain. Bu’r undod a ddaeth â Phrydain drwy’r rhyfel ynghyd ag atgofion chwerw y blynyddoedd rhwng y ddau ryfel yn arwain at weledigaeth ar gyfer cymdeithas well. Ysbryd y cyfnod oedd y syniad y byddai pobl yn edrych ar ôl ei gilydd. Mae Loach wedi creu naratif gwleidyddol a chymdeithasol cyfoethog yn defnyddio ffilm archif o’r cyfnod a chyfweliadau cyfoes gyda’r rhai sy’n cofio’r amseroedd hynny, megis y Glowr Ray Davies o Gaerffili a’r Doctor arloesol o’r Cymoedd y Dr. Julian Tudor-Hart. Mae’r ffilm yn dathlu cyfnod o ysbryd cymunedol heb ei debyg o’r blaen yn y DU, a barhaodd am flynyddoedd lawer ac a arweiniodd at gyflawniadau gwych megis y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Cenedlaethol – sydd o dan fygythiad eto heddiw.

“The achievements of the ’45 Labour government have largely been written out of our history. From near economic collapse we took leading industries into public ownership and established the Welfare State. Generosity, mutual support and co-operation were the watchwords of the age. It is time to remember the determination of those who were intent on building a better world.” Ken Loach


The Spirit of

The Spirit of

Screenings Date Time
Aberystwyth Arts Centre 2013-03-17 15:00:00 Buy Tickets
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff 2013-03-17 15:00:00 Buy Tickets
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff 2013-03-06 18:00:00 Buy Tickets
The Torch Theatre 2013-03-17 15:00:00 Buy Tickets