Once a Year on Blackpool Sands

I was surprised that this is categorized as a comedy. I found it to be a serious and emotional film about homosexuality in Yorkshire, England in 1953. Two men, Eddy and Tommy, who have known each other since early boyhood, are in love. But their relationship is shrouded in secrecy and shame. Homosexuality was illegal at the time in the UK, and one scene involving the police gave a hint of how difficult gay life could be at that time in a small mining village. But there is a reckoning during the annual village holiday, when Eddie finally decides to take a stand.

Apparently, it's based on a true story of Eddy Corkhill and Tommy Price, who became outspoken LGBT activists. I'm glad to have learned that bit of LGBT history from the film.

It's a story about shame, tough decisions, and about courage.

It begins and ends in the 1980s, in the midst of the AIDS crisis, where the story of 1953 is being told among a group of gay characters gathered together for mutual support at a time when no outside support was forthcoming for people with AIDS.

The casting, and the acting on the part of all the characters is excellent, and while I found the strong Yorkshire accents sometimes very difficult to understand (and I was unable to find any subtitle setting on this movie), I found it a well done, engaging, and quite powerful film.

There are some funny lines, and a couple of chuckles here and there, but I wouldn't call it a comedy. Expect a deep and dark, moving drama if you decide to watch this movie.