New British Cinema
Shed Your Tears and Walk Away

Tuesday 20th October NFT1
Thursday 22nd October NFT1
Friday 23rd October Studio

The small town of Hebdon Bridge, once reputed as a paradise for bohemian drug experimentation and free hippie love, has swapped its carefree past for one just as addictive and all the more destructive. Director and ex-resident Jez Lewis returns to his place of birth to attend yet another funeral, but to also find out why so many of his classmates and friends have developed drink and drug problems; why others have committed suicide; and why this quaint, innocuous, pastoral town is prone to heartbreaking tragedies. What proceeds are affecting, if not frustrating, portraits of addiction and redemption.

In an effort to understand why so many classmates and friends of his generation are committing suicide, Lewis reconnects with former friend, Cas, who use to do heroine, suffers from hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, and has been given two years to live unless stops drinking; a feat for Cas as a beer can is never far from his hand. But this is Cas’s life, one Carlsberg at a time, surrounded by friends doing the same. Although Lewis primarily centres around Cas’s alcohol problem, rehabilitation and infuriating fall from grace, by spending time with Cas the equally tragic stories of those who surround him are illuminated. Such as the story of Silly, Cas’s best friend, and the family of Sam Jones – who dies of an overdose; all poignant as they are distressing.

It is an easy option to demonise so-called ‘layabouts’ like Cas as drunkard and smack heads – as graffitied on the park bench where Cas and co. often congregate -, however, by spending with them this notion is challenged, but not forgotten. Cas is a devoted step-father, loyal son, lovable rogue and respected amongst his motley crue of friends, but he carries the burden of a painful childhood, losing his father at a young age and a violent relationship with an abusive stepfather. While Silly, precariously swaying from alcoholic drunkenness but somehow remains horizontal, joined the French Foreign Legion and fought in the most horrendous wars, wars that have left unseen scars that has manifested in a drink and drug habit. He is tormented with memories of Somalia, where he was forced to kill the first time to save his own life; he killed a young boy aged no more than 12.

Although Lewis finds a charismatic charm, if not something heroic about these men, however, he never tries to make excuses for their choices. They know their individual and community problems, Lewis himself admits he left Hebden Bridge to escape the curse of alcohol and drugs, but for those that remain, alienation on the outside versus the close-knit community comfort means escape is just not an option. The next generation boast the world is their Oyster, as long as that world is Hebden Bridge. For people like Cas and Silly, empathy is often in short supply, however, apathy is also justified. During the course of filming this documentary at least 3 people die, one a tragic accident, the others alcohol or drug related. In this cycle of misfortune, my heart goes out to the women, in particular Diana, Silly’s fiance; the mothers, wives, sisters and partners helplessly watching the men they love disintegrate and self-destruct. Lewis doesn’t give them a chance to air their feelings and are at best marginal figures, but the few moments the women are on screen are the most excruciatingly heartrending and emotive. Shed Your Tears and Walk Away is a profoundly personal in its outset, courageous and thought-provoking in its conclusion.