Director
Chris Foggin
(FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS)

Starring
Rory Kinnear, Joel Fry, Phoebe Dynevor and Hugh Bonneville

Based (in its own words) on a ‘trueish’ story, Bank of Dave tells of the journey that Burnley man David Fishwick (Rory Kinnear) undertook to be granted the first banking licence in Britain in over 150 years.  Dave is a man of the people, a self-made millionaire who began offering small loans to locals who would otherwise be rejected by the big banks. Frustrated at the hypocrisy of the banking regulators that state only they can be trusted with the money of the people, all the while losing hundreds of billions of pounds, adding to a global financial crisis, Dave Fishwick sought about obtaining a banking licence, one where he would be able to filter all of the profits back into the local community, rather than to fatten the bonuses of the banking elite. Dave engages the services of London solicitor Hugh (Joel Fry) to not necessarily help him win the right to hold a new banking licence, but to force the banks into admitting their double standards. Hugh at first believes this is a simple case that won’t take too much of his energy, but is soon drawn in by Dave’s charm and the warmth of the local community he is trying to improve.

When it comes to these feel-good movies about working-class heroes, no-one does it better than the Brit’s. In the vein of The Full Monty or Made in Dagenham, Bank of Dave brings a heartwarming story to life through engaging characters and fantastic performances. Rory Kinnear is lovable and larger than life but in a familiar way. Every small community has a ‘Dave’ and because of that familiarity, you want to root for him right from the get go. Joel Fry as the gawky Hugh is also very relatable. He doesn’t ooze that charm or sophistication, but his endearing social awkwardness and natural discomfort hits in all the right places. There’s an understated nature about this film and it works for it wonderfully. It’s not a belly full of laughs by any means, but it will get you smiling. It probably won’t move you to tears, but it will leave you feeling warm inside. When people ask me for a film recommendation over the coming weeks, this one will be top of my list. Just a little slice of warm, pure joy to get us through winter.

Bank of Dave is in cinemas June 1st