Writer hopes Oasis film can help end family feuds
Reuters
The creator and writer of a film documenting last year’s Oasis reunion tour has said he hoped it would encourage others to resolve family feuds like the Gallagher brothers.
Steven Knight said Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger – which charts their emotional reconciliation after 15 years – was “incredibly emotional” and had resonated with many people.
The Peaky Blinders writer said the reaction to the candid film – which shows “real emotions from real people” – had been “extraordinary”, adding: “When you write fiction you aspire to having these kind of reactions.”
He said if it inspired people to get in touch with family members they have not spoken to for years “then I’m all for it – it’s great”.
The project is part concert film and part documentary and charts the Manchester band on their reunion world tour, which kicked off in Cardiff in July last year.
It also features the first joint interviews with Noel and Liam in more than 20 years.
Noel was left in tears as the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Knight told BBC Radio Manchester the tour had been “phenomenal” and “incredibly emotional”.
PA Media
Knight, who grew up in Birmingham, said there were “lots of fathers and sons and mothers and daughters” at the stadiums.
“The original generation have grown up and their kids seemed to have found the music for themselves and when they are in the stadium and the music starts playing it was a spontaneous combustion; people were hugging and crying.”
He said he could hear people breaking down about 15 minutes into the film.
“It’s an extraordinary thing that I’ve never known,” said Knight.
“When you write fiction and you write a movie you aspire to having these kind of reactions.
“People are watching real people having real emotions and it is really powerful.”
He said the film about reconciliation had “resonated” with people.
“What we’re finding is people who’ve watched it, they have an emotional reaction to it and afterwards they think, well, you know what, I haven’t spoken to my half-sister for 10 years, maybe I should text, maybe I should call.
“And if that’s the effect it has, then I’m all for it, it’s great.”
‘Friction’
Knight said it was an absolute “honour and a privilege” to work with the “great” Gallagher brothers.
He praised their work ethic, their “incredible honesty” and said they were funny and smart.
Knight said there was some similarity between the Gallaghers and the Peaky Blinders.
“Obviously they’re brothers and sometimes there’s friction but this is the real life and the real world.”
The filmmaker is writing the new James Bond movie but kept tight-lipped about who would be playing the leading role.
“The only thing I can say is it is fantastic to be doing it. I’m loving it and I think it is going to be really, really wonderful.”
Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger is showing in cinemas and also streaming on Disney+ later in the year.
Listen to the best ofBBC Radio Manchester on Soundsand follow BBC Manchester onFacebook,X, andInstagram. You can also send story ideas
Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger review – emotional documentary glosses over the hard stuff
Oasis’ Cardiff reunion gig was ‘hugely emotional’ say film-makers
Peaky Blinders ‘a Western in the West Midlands’
Oasis
Disney+
Manchester
Oasis
Peaky Blinders
Birmingham
Liam Gallagher
