The Stanlow Story
A BAFTA special award nominated documentary following the post-war construction of an immense oil refinery near Manchester in the UK.
Top Cast
Overview
A BAFTA special award nominated documentary following the post-war construction of an immense oil refinery near Manchester in the UK.
Rating
6.0
/ 10
1 Reviews 0 Popular
1 Reviews
-
CinemaSerf6 Jan 6, 2025Stuart Legg wrote the narration here as this documentary uses some actuality and quite futuristic looking artists impressions to explain the plan of action before, and then proceeds to follow the construction of a facility that would require 4,000 people to excavate, build and fit before it became the largest plant of it's kind in Europe. The film production started in 1949 and followed the ground preparation, tunnel boring and lining, then the gradual elevation of thousands of tons of reinforced concrete as the complex takes shape. The photography captures the industry ongoing during this process well, and as altitude filming becomes easier the grand scale of the proposition begins to emerge, easily dwarfing those working on the project and their hundred foot high derricks. There's the building of an enormous cooling tower, an intricate network of supply pipes, roads and what even looks like an airport control tower as this crucial piece of post-war British infrastructure ensures the supply of petrochemicals and fuel will continue whilst providing much needed jobs. It was made by Shell and is about Shell, so it's hardly likely to be delivering anything critical about the project, nor assess any of the impact on the environment caused by such significant works, but as piece of film signposting the determination of a nation to get back to work after the war, it's quite an informative - if a little bit dry - watch.
Recommendations
A documentary focused on plastic pollution in the world's oceans.
A Plastic Ocean
7.5 2016
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
Naqoyqatsi
6.1 2002
Martin Scorsese’s portrait of writer and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, celebrated for her sharp wit and observations on modern life. Filmed at New York’s Waverly Inn and intercut with archival footage and interviews, the documentary captures Lebowitz’s distinctive worldview through her spontaneous monologues and public appearances.
Public Speaking
7.0 2011
In this documentary, recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it therefore to be his rightful property.
Finders Keepers
6.5 2015
A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.
The Class of ‘92
7.1 2013
Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.
McQueen
7.5 2018
Lyrical and powerfully personal essay film that reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother, her beloved dog, and such diverse subjects as family memories, surveillance, and Buddhist teachings.
Heart of a Dog
6.5 2015
A documentary about the making of David Fincher's 2008 film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Virtually every element in the evolution of the Fincher's film is documented here, from the project's attachment to numerous other directors during the 1990s, to its shoot in 2006 and 2007 in New Orleans, to its complex, CGI-intensive postproduction process.
The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button
7.0 2009
In 1999, Internet entrepreneur Josh Harris recruits dozens of young men and women who agree to live in underground apartments for weeks at a time while their every movement is broadcast online. Soon, Harris and his girlfriend embark on their own subterranean adventure, with cameras streaming live footage of their meals, arguments, bedroom activities, and bathroom habits. This documentary explores the role of technology in our lives, as it charts the fragile nature of dot-com economy.
We Live in Public
6.9 2009
A documentary that explores the downloading revolution; the kids that created it, the bands and the businesses that were affected by it, and its impact on the world at large.
Downloaded
6.5 2013