This film is part of Rentals
Stephen
Artist Melanie Manchot’s debut feature is a visually striking film-within-a-film, exploring mental health and addiction.
Director: Melanie Manchot
Overview
Multi-media artist Melanie Manchot works with an addiction recovery group in Liverpool who take part in this semi-fictional, film-within-a-film, exploring dependency and mental health from multiple perspectives. The story centres around Stephen, a character recovering from gambling and alcohol addictions. He auditions for the role of Thomas Goudie, a bank employee who embezzled £170,000 to pay gambling debts, and whose arrest became the subject of the first ever police reconstruction filmed by Mitchell and Kenyon in 1901 (available to watch for free on BFI Player).
Machot presents a visually striking reminder of how dextrous the documentary form can be, and with the lines between reality and fiction blurred, emotionally charged scenes reveal inner truths about both the characters and those playing them.
Related
Four Daughters Four Daughters
Drama-documentary 2023 103 mins Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
The mother-daughter relationship is explored to cathartic effect in this complex and poignant hybrid documentary about a woman and her missing daughters.
Independent Miss Craigie Independent Miss Craigie
Drama-documentary 2020 92 mins Director: Lizzie Thynne
Filmmaker Lizzie Thynne tells the story of director Jill Craigie's (1911-99) remarkable career, drawing on her own words and extensive clips from her work.
The Filmmaker's House The Filmmaker's House
Drama-documentary 2020 75 mins Director: Marc Isaacs
Blending documentary with fiction, and a wry humour with emotional intensity, acclaimed filmmaker Marc Isaacs unfolds a story which asks pertinent questions about the nature of filmmaking itself.
Krabi, 2562 Krabi, 2562
Drama-documentary 2020 90 mins Director: Ben Rivers and Anocha Suwichakornpong
Observing locals and visitors creates a highly original portrait of the Thai tourist town of Krabi in this collaboration between award-winning directors Anocha Suwichakornpong and Ben Rivers.
On the Road On the Road
Drama-documentary 2017 121 mins Director: Michael Winterbottom
Michael Winterbottom’s sexy and idiosyncratic tour film follows 2018 Mercury Prize winners Wolf Alice, merging thrilling live footage with a fictional backstage romance.
The Song of the Shirt The Song of the Shirt
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1979 129 mins Director: Sue Clayton and Jonathan Curling
The plight of women in the 1840s London rag trade is explored and deconstructed in this multifaceted documentary
Timestalker Timestalker
Comedy 2024 89 mins Director: Alice Lowe
Alice Lowe's time-jumping fantasy rom-com is a colourful, darkly funny treat.
South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic
Documentary 1919 81 mins Silent Director: Frank Hurley
An extraordinary story of survival in the wastes of Antarctica.
Night Courier (Mandoob) Night Courier (Mandoob)
Comedy 2023 112 mins Director: Ali Kalthami
A desperate delivery driver gets caught up in the dark underworld of Riyadh in Ali Kalthami’s gripping, pitch-black satire.
The Ballymurphy Precedent The Ballymurphy Precedent
Documentary 2018 108 mins Director: Callum Macrae
John Pilger's film on the conflict in Northern Ireland is a skilful mix of investigative journalism, documentary storytelling and reflections on contemporary history.
Utopia Utopia
Documentary 2013 111 mins Director: John Pilger and Alan Lowery
John Pilger's portrayal of the oldest continuous human culture is also an investigation into a suppressed colonial past, and rapacious present.
The Coming War on China The Coming War on China
Documentary 2016 113 mins Director: John Pilger
John Pilger’s prescient 60th film for ITV is both a warning and an inspiring story of resistance.