A love letter to memory, music and childhood. Before the film, hear from Brookside and Shameless star Tina Malone as she reflects on her early role in Terence Davies’ poetic masterpiece. Expect humour, heart, and a moving tribute to growing up northern.
Set in Liverpool in the mid-1950s, The Long Day Closes tells the story of the happy childhood of 11 year old Bud—a joyous time of long summer days and trips to the cinema, music forever on the radio, and the boundless love of his mother, older sister and brothers—his contentment clouded only by his struggle to adapt to life at a new school.
- Director: Terence Davies
- Cast: Leigh McCormack, Marjorie Yates, Tina Malone
- Language: English
Joining us at the screening:
This screening will be introduced by Tina Malone, an actress whose credits include the iconic roles of Mo McGee in Brookside and Mimi Maguire in Shameless. Her role in The Long Day Closes was one of her first performances on screen and she will provide some fantastic context around the film and Terence Davies' wider work.
Northern Youth—Northern Youth is a celebration of northern young identity in cinema. Bradford is one of the UK's youngest cities with a significant portion of its population under 25, and this season champions the bold and blistering spirit of youthful northern characters, actors, film-makers, writers, and mavericks. Punky and poetic, powerful and punchy, this season celebrates northern youth in all its glory.
The season is curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc, the Bradford-born, raised and based director of Sex Education, Skins and Shameless, and the upcoming Bradford-set feature Flesh and Flamingos about queer northern youth. His passion for complex and daring stories about youth drive this rebellious and raw season.
The selections in Northern Youth span several decades, from a '60s British New Wave classic celebrating teenage rebellion, to a provocative contemporary film debut about consent. The stories transport us from the back streets of Salford, to the majestic Yorkshire moors; from the Liverpool of a teenage boy's lyrical imagination, to the underbelly of Nottingham's council estates. The stories are unique and bursting with youthful spirit: from a group of '80s skinheads exploring their collective and individual identity, to a teenage girl in Yorkshire pushing at the realms of her sexuality, from a young northern rebel boldly defying authority, to a group of adolescents navigating their bodies and emotions on their first clubbing holiday. Together, these films celebrate northern youth in all its complexity—championing diversity, the individual experience, and both the frailty and wonder of being on the cusp of adulthood.
This season is part of Bradford: A City of Film, a programme of independent film across the Bradford District. Co-Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and National Science and Media Museum with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.
