Publisher's Synopsis
Four British comedy dramas. In 'Once Upon a Time in the Midlands' (2002), Dek (Rhys Ifans) and Shirley (Shirley Henderson) live together happily until Dek proposes to her on national television. Enter Shirley's ex, Jimmy (Robert Carlyle), the (very) absent father of her daughter whom Shirley hasn't seen for 20 years. Will she say yes to Dek - or is Jimmy still in with a chance? 'Brassed Off' (1996) is set in North Yorkshire in 1992. A local colliery band led by Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) prepares for a national competition, despite the fact that its members are faced with redundancy if their pit closes. Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), the daughter of a former band leader, returns to the band and raises their spirits, also beginning a relationship with one of their younger members (Ewan McGregor). In 'Fever Pitch' (1997), school teacher Paul (Colin Firth) has one true passion - his beloved Arsenal. However, when he begins a relationship with Sarah (Ruth Gemmel), he has to confront the fact that there may be more to life than football - a revelation that risks remaining unheeded as the Gunners make a charge towards the 1989 League Championship. In 'Local Hero' (1983), Mac (Peter Riegert) is a young executive who flies to Scotland to purchase an entire town on behalf of the oil company he works for, which is run by near-psychotic Happer (Burt Lancaster). The townsfolk seem happy enough to part with their town, although they drive a hard bargain. Meanwhile, Mac, who was wrongly thought by his boss to be of Scottish descent, begins to take a liking to the little village.
