TAKING LIBERTIES, WINNING BAFTA’S?

19-01-2008

Taking Liberties – the movie made by Bromsgrove director Chris Atkins and featuring Stirrer blogger Dr David Nicholl – has been nominated for a BAFTA. Atkins says he’s “flabbergasted.”

The Michael Moore-style film exposing the growing restrictions on freedom in Britain was the surprise box-office hit of 2007, and the Daily Mirror described it as “one of the most important films of the year.”

It’s in the running for the Carl Foreman Award For Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film.

Explaining the origins of the project, Atkins told The Stirrer last June, “I grew up in the Thatcher era, when there were more than three million on the dole. It was really bad back then. It really polarised the country. Those Tory years hurt a lot of people.

“But once Blair was elected, I stopped reading the newspapers, or watching Newsnight. I though everything was all fine. It took a few years before we woke up.

“Iraq changed everything, and in 2004/05 I started getting political again. I realised that for 6 or 7 years the country had gone to sleep and all these laws had been passed, reducing our liberty.”

Reacting to the nomination, he said he was, “‘flabbergasted and thrilled but worried that it won’t do my anti-establishment credentials any good!’

Doc Dave’s appearance in the film – which is now out on DVD – came during a protest at Hiatt’s factory in Great Barr, which has been accused of making shackles for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

(To see our full interview with Chris Atkins, click here)