Chatter Box Film

The Dreaming of You: The Making of the Coral documentary is looking at the 20 year career of the Liverpudlian band.

Directed by James Slater, the film takes archival footage by the band as they came to prominence upon Merseyside with voiceovers by the six members telling the story of their genesis.

Slater takes all manner of film stock – DV, Hi-8, 16mm and 8mm – and these differing styles helps create a melting pot collating the various influences that the band themselves have in their catalogue.

Telling a rich history of Liverpool’s musical pedigree from The Beatles and skiffle rock to the contemporary scene of Lightning Seeds and the Zutons. Famously, Iain Broudie (frontman of the Lightning Seeds) produced their first Mercury nominated album which featured hit singles, the eponymous track and ‘Pass It On’.

The Coral have persisted as an act for twenty plus years, and it is this persistence and energy that marks them out as a band that sprung up from working class roots (often the band mention how they had no money for instruments) and through the tireless bonds of friendship they have encountered fame and got through the other side.

The film finds a band who are still growing up; this documentary looks as much at the band becoming the band they were from childhood, to their continuing maturation.

This story of togetherness is familiar as so many of their peers are still touring to fans old and new, seeking that pique of nostalgia. The Coral’s psychedelic rock and roll music with fuzzy and jangly guitar sound offers that hope of halcyon days.

Produced by Sony Music Vision and J6 Films, Dreaming of You is in UK cinemas from 12th September.