Why we picked it – We showed Kim Hopkins’s previous film, A Bunch of Amateurs, to much acclaim three seasons ago. This is the second of a trilogy about Northern working class culture. There is a third in post production.

Synopsis – What does it mean to grow old while refusing to let go of a dream? Dene Michael, former frontman of Black Lace, continues to chase the spotlight decades after Agadoo, the song many critics have dismissed as the worst pop song ever. Performing to small, ageing audiences in some of Britain’s most economically challenged communities, he remains determined to find one last hit. By his side are the two people who believe in him most: his irrepressible 89-year-old mother and his girlfriend, more than three decades his junior.

Over the course of a career that has seen him sing “push pineapple, shake the tree” an estimated 45,000 times, Dene has endured obscurity, disappointment and the fading of fame. Yet his optimism remains remarkably intact. Following Dene, his mother and his partner on a quintessentially British road trip to Benidorm and beyond, the film captures a man navigating the gap between past glory and present reality while stubbornly holding on to hope, humour and the belief that his best days may not be behind him.

The film – Warm, eccentric and unexpectedly moving, the film weaves together themes of love, family loyalty, entertainment, working-class resilience and the enduring power of pop music. Beneath its humour lies a thoughtful reflection on ageing, happiness, survival and the experience of being left behind by a society that often overlooks those on its margins. At its heart, it is a celebration of perseverance and human connection, and of the people who keep going despite the odds.

Director Kim Hopkins is known for her strict observational approach, refusing to stage scenes or interfere with the lives she documents. As she explains in her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the authenticity of her films depends on allowing events to unfold naturally. The sole exception here was persuading Dene to book into an air-conditioned hotel for his mother on the journey to Benidorm, a decision whose necessity becomes abundantly clear.

Director, Writer and Cinematographer: Kim Hopkins; UK, 2025, 92 mins, 12A

Links imdb The Hollywood Reporter review and interview with Kim Hopkins Screen Scotland Get the Chance review