Friday, April 4, 10:00 PM - 11:30 PM at Regal
Special Free Screening

FACTORY: MANCHESTER FROM JOY DIVISION TO HAPPY MONDAYS
UK, 2007, 90 MIN
DIRECTED BY CHRIS RODLEY
North American Premiere
From grimy industrial wasteland to musical Mecca, the transformation of Manchester England was driven by one organization -- Factory Records, a stumbling but brilliant creative collective led by Tony Wilson, Granada TV host and music impresario. This BBC-produced doc tracks the unlikely tale of how Wilson and four friends pioneered Britain's independent pop culture, reinvented Manchester and blew a crap-load of money -- most of it not their own - in the process. Run more as art project than business, Factory was famous for making sleek record covers so expensive to produce they lost money on each sale, as well as labeling everything with a catalog number (their ecstasy-fueled techno club The Hacienda was FAC51, Martin Hannett's lawsuit was FAC61). Packed with music from label regulars, the film is anchored by an expansive interview with Wilson, then in treatment for renal cancer. Crusty as always, Wilson joyously recounts both the highs and lows of the company's fifteen-year reign in Manchester - an account liberally peppered with spiky analysis, obscenities, self deprecation and child-like enthusiasm. Counterpoint to Wilson comes from many quarters, including members of Joy Division/New Order, the Happy Mondays, A Certain Ratio and local music writers, all of whom shed a different light on past events -- particularly issues related to finances. Ultimately, this doc stands as a fitting tribute to the triumph, tragedy, and human comedy that was Factory and Tony Wilson. BTW - Wilson died of a heart attack in August 2007 as the filmmakers were adding the closing credits to this film. At his funeral, Wilson's coffin was given the final Factory catalogue number -- FAC501.