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Comment RSS‘1 Day’ Banned From Home City’s Cinemas
7.11.09 # 0:33 # News # 9 Comments
1 Day, the new feature from acclaimed art-house director Penny Woolcock, is given a national UK release today (6 November 2009). But cinema-goers living in Birmingham, the city in which 1 Day is set and was filmed, will struggle to find the movie at their local multiplex, because Vue and Odeon have both banned the movie. The Birmingham outlets of the two big screen chains have taken this decision over concerns on their part that the film glamorises gang culture – an accusation that both Woolcock and her lead actor, Dylan Duffus, strongly refute.
The hip-hop infused 1 Day centres on a frenetic day in the life for Birmingham drug dealer Flash (Duffus), who is left with just 24 hours to come up with the cash he owes to a gangland boss. The movie is the first acting role for Duffus, as it is too for many of his co-stars, and he recently told The Guardian that he was confident that audiences would not find his character to be in any way aspirational.
“Flash has no happy expression, no laughing and joking. It’s very serious. For somebody who is caught up in that world, the only thing they want to do is get out of it. If you go to that lifestyle you’ll end up dead or in jail.”
When banning 1 Day, Vue and Odeon suggested that they were acting on the advice of the West Midlands Police, which Assistant Chief Constable of that force, Suzette Davenport, has since denied.
“I would like to make it absolutely clear that West Midlands Police don’t have any powers at all to censor. Organisationally, we haven’t sent out a message to cinemas that they shouldn’t screen this film.”
Davenport did however express doubts about the content of 1 Day.
“I have always been consistent in saying that I am concerned it glamorises gangs and the impact this will have on the people of Birmingham.”
Director Woolcock (whose previous film, Exodus, saw her collaborating with Turner Prize-winning sculptor Anthony Gormley on a retelling of the story of Moses) has condemned both the ban from the two cinema chains and the misgivings of West Midlands Police.
“Censoring this film is shortsighted, shameful and lets a lot of people down. Even if 1 Day did glamorise gun violence, which it certainly does not, I do not think it is the function of the local police to go round saying what films should be shown and which ones shouldn’t. Let people decide for themselves.”
Personally speaking, I can’t say I am ever in favour of any film being banned, but even putting that particular argument aside for a second, what is strange in this 1 Day row is the schism between the banning cinemas and the police. Vue and Odeon claim police advice as justification. The West Midlands Police deny offering any such guidance. It is an equation that fails to add up. And surely, if people are going to ban films, then whoever it is doing the banning needs at the very least to be honest about the reasoning behind their choice.
Sources: Channel 4, The Guardian, Sunday Mercury
Posted by 
i dont understand how the cinema and oher people can say it glamorises gang culture when this film is not different to shiffty/ kidulthood/ adulthood an any other gang culture films that have been out at the cinema on tv or on dvd i think it is a disgrace to say that because a film was filmed in birmingham it cant be played at the cinema but its ok to show films like saw an things that glamorises murder , cant be one rule for one and another for another
Much as directors hate it, films do influence people. Car crime went up the weekend Gone In 60 Seconds came out. Who didn’t think twice about swimming in the sea after watching Jaws? This is why governments have made propaganda films in times of war, we’re influenced by what we watch. Saw is cartoony and far removed from life, this isn’t.
Should it be banned? I can’t answer that because I haven’t seen it.
I think people who deny that hip hop culture has an influence on gang violence, gun and knife crime etc are living in a dream world. Pop open the stereo of any car involved in a drive by shooting and I guarantee it’s not Coldplay they are listening to.
My point is, if you ban the films then you might as well ban the music, which is ridiculous because not everyone who listens to hip hop is going to pick up a gun and shoot somebody, the same way not everyone who listens to Iron Maiden is going to start worshipping the devil.
“Flash has no happy expression, no laughing and joking. It’s very serious. For somebody who is caught up in that world, the only thing they want to do is get out of it. If you go to that lifestyle you’ll end up dead or in jail.”
This quote from the Guardian is clearly nonsense when you consider how many rappers have been inspired by Brian De Palma’s Scarface. Tony Montana loses everyone he loves and then dies yet still the film is held up as a symbol of what you can achieve if you sell enough drugs.
wtf man its a sick movie fam priks like people d nt want us to watch it u dnt say nuttin about any other movies priks
Well I hadn’t heard of this film until it was banned so I guess that it actually works in the films favour.
How much more kudos will all the kids get at school by not only watching a film about gangs but a film that was also banned.
I think the police should be more concerned dealing with the real-life gangs more than hyping up the fictional ones.
p.s. can anyone translate what faz was trying to say?
I think by banning this film they are doing it HUGE favour media wise and socially speaking. all you have to do is search it google or facebook and hundreds of people are getting all hyped up about it and making plans to go to the nearest cinema in wolverhampton to see it, its a sellout, also they are driving custom away from birminghams cinemas, its a birmingham funded movie, therefore shouldnt they be putting money back into the pot? instead they are going to get alot of people skipping school and going to wolverhampton to see it.
Itll be on channel 4 soon anyways.
PS- faz said
What the f**k man, its a good movie mate (fam), (pricks) like the people that dont want us to watch it dont say anything about any other movies (pricks)
translation-
“Blimey! ‘1 Day’ is a superb motion picture that explores the underlying problems in British society. People don’t want us to watch this yet they are perfectly happy to let us watch other films of a similar ilk. I think they are a bunch of phalluses.”
movies should not be banned, regardless of what it’s about… a theater can choose not to play a movie at thier theater but i dont think the term should be “banned” yes movies influence people but only people who already need some sort of phyciatric help, i saw gone in 60 seconds and havent stolen a car, i’ve seen saw and havent killed anyone, if anything movies need a WARNING at the begining that should say “if you think what is about to happen in this movie is ok than you should get up and leave the theater, the movie you are about to see is for ENTERTAINMENT ONLY!!! we do not endorse in anyway re-enacting anything preformed in this movie”
I saw the movie on Sunday at the Sheffield Doc Fest and highly recommend it. Gripping, dramatic and refreshingly authentic fare. Personally I think that along the way film unpacks some of the issues very well and I don’t think it glamorises drugs or violence, but if it does then that’s an accusation that should be levelled at the entire canon of Hollywood’s output in this genre, which the police and the cinemas don’t object to. Go see the movie and make your own mind up. You’ll be moved and entertained while doing so.