We Are the Freaks (2013)

Interesting facts

We Are the Freaks is a 2013 British film written, produced and directed by Justin Edgar. It is a surreal and anarchic anti-teen film about three misfits having the night of their lives. It stars Jamie Blackley, Michael Smiley, Sean Teale, Amber Anderson, Rosamund Hanson and Adam Gillen. The film premiered at the 2013 Edinburgh International Film Festival in official competition for the Michael Powell Award. It is set in November 1990 against the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher's resignation.

Production

Edgar wrote, directed and produced the film. He describes it as "A film about growing up in Birmingham" The script was derived from old home movies he had made with friends when he was 18 and 19. He states "I’ve still got the tapes at home and they are quite funny.” Regarding the period setting he states “I wanted to set it 20 years ago because I think you need that distance, like American Graffiti and Quadrophenia did, otherwise your film can ag…

The film was shot on location and edited entirely in the city of Birmingham, something that Edgar is very proud of. According to Edgar the film was shot in 15 days on a tight budget in March 2012. He shot little coverage so was able to edit very quickly, having a selling cut ready in about a week. the film was bought for UK distribution by Metrodome following its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Edgar views the film as highly political and says he was inspired to write it by the 2010 United Kingdom student protests "As I was writing the student riots happened and then the summer riots and the period when I was 20 in 1990 seemed to have a lot of resonance for modern youth". "Thatcher had a huge impact on this country. I’d compare her to Franco, Salazar or De Gaulle.

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