“A film about happiness” runs the tagline, and director Jerry Rothwell first embarked on this documentary as an antidote to his funk after a failed film project, seeing in Heavy Load five people who seemed to have cracked the happiness conundrum, playing their own raucous brand of punk rock purely for the fun of it.
But, those expecting a mawkish, simple-minded celebration of the less-abled, fear not: Heavy Load is a fascinating movie, insightful but never patronising (this is no mock-umentary), stripping away layers of ignorance about disability but never shying away from the realities.
Comprising the wild bunch are Johnny Rotten-esque lead singer Simon, The Edge-like guitarist Jimmy, Keith Moon drummer Michael, plus guitarist Mick and bassist Paul, housing officers by day who land the band gigs, lug equipment and keep them together.
Buoyed by the attention of Rothwell’s camera, the group attempt to go legit, moving out of the comfort zone of fundraising gigs and into rough pubs without immediately supportive audiences.
But, this new ambition fractures their easy-going vibe, most clearly seen in the Elvis-loving Michael, a Downs syndrome sufferer frustrated by the restrictions on his life and dreaming of going solo.
After scoring victories on the legitimate scene and Paul landing them their biggest-ever gig, at the Wychwood Festival, disaster strikes when Mick, the heart of the group, announces he’s relocating to France. Can the band carry on?
Packed with excitement and tension typically felt in a blockbuster action movie, Heavy Load is a rollercoaster of emotions.
Rothwell’s film captures the daily trials facing those with learning disabilities, plus new ones as they score a meeting with EMI to gain permission to cover Kylie’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” as a B-side, but lawyers explain that any lyric alterations breaches copyright law - thankfully Kylie herself is more down to earth.
The new-found confidence also enables them to establish the ‘Stay Up Late’ movement, a campaign to allow the disabled to stay out past the 7 – 9.30pm curfew that sees the band’s audiences halved, taking their cause to the highest levels of government.
Contender for best documentary of the year, Heavy Load contains a classic moment of Spinal Tap-ism as Paul, when Heavy Load is at its lowest ebb, ponders why Michael says he hates him:
“We did have that argument about whether Westlife were a band or not.”
Tune in and rock out now.
