I Get Knocked Down Review

You are still relevant, you can be you and make a difference

Who remembers John Prescott, a bucket of ice and a band called Chumbawamba?  I think it's probably hard to forget that iconic moment when anarchists took over the BRITs.  Why am I talking about that? It's because tonight I had the pleasure of watching ‘I Get Knocked Down’ in the Wolverhampton Arena Theatre as part of the Midlands Fringe, and after the viewing, attending a Q and A with Dunstan Bruce, Chumbawamba’s lead singer, and Sophie Robinson, the writer, director, and producer of the film. 

The film is centred around Dunstan post-Chumbawamba, but this review isn’t about the film, which was released in 2021, after taking 5 years to make. A film that’s fun, thought-provoking, heartwarming and filled with hope.  A film which reminds us that where the world was then and where it is now isn’t that different. A film that explores the inner critic and reinvention of someone after the mainstream decides you’re done, you were a one-hit wonder, go quietly into the long dark. You can probably tell I enjoyed it; otherwise I wouldn’t be rambling on quite so pretentiously. No, I don’t need to review a 5-year-old film which succeeded in telling a story that poses the question ‘Am I Invisible Yet’ and making me laugh, which of course is the most important thing. 

What is this review about then, I hear you ask, before you click away to read something less boring instead. Well, it’s about me, a 61-year-old reinventing himself at a point in life when we are led to believe we should be winding down, buying slippers we’ll never wear (I have 2 pairs, I feel I should burn them at this point) and shut up. This film delivers the message, ‘You are still relevant, you can be you and make a difference, big or small’. In short, it's about hope and revival, so if you haven’t seen it, go find it, whatever age you are, and enjoy.

In the Q and A, Dunstan and Sophie talked openly about how it came to be made, the challenge of getting funding, the unexpected meetings, the people who can’t be named and the fact it was made during lockdown, where unexpected help was found all over the place. They both had different ideas about the direction of the film, which ultimately would lead to the same, empowering destination.  This was especially true for Dunstan, seeing the difference Chumbawamba had made and that all change matters. 

I think everyone in the room would love to see a short film about the making of this film and the adventures along the way, and it felt right to have this event in a community-driven theatre connected to the University in Wolves and at the Midland Fringe, an event all about giving people voices and getting them seen.

I’m supposed to keep these reviews to about 300 words, but sometimes you just have to remake the rules, which feels right in this case; I’m sure Baby Head would agree.  Am I invisible yet? Is the question Dunstan posed in the film? I would have to say no, we aren’t.