“Taking on such a challenging film is a feat in itself with many moving parts, but how the directors executed their story is truly inspiring.”

Spanning annual snapshots from 1972-1980, discontent school leaver Joodi embarks on a quest for musical stardom. Amidst her rise to fame she confronts formidable economic, political, and social barriers as the nine-year construction of the Humber Bridge casts shadow on her world. Inspired by true events. Music by Paul Heaton (The Beautiful South).

Directors Haley Muraleedharan and Gabriel Fernández-Gil have carved out an incredibly personal and powerful story with their film Nine Years, which as the title suggests, spans a very unique time in UK culture that most might not be aware of. Taking on such a challenging film is a feat in itself with many moving parts, but how the directors executed their story is truly inspiring.

Let’s start with first impressions of the film, kicking it off with an upbeat and period specific track written by Paul Heaton (The Beautiful South). It allows us to really go back in time and get a feel for the film you’re about to see. It not only creatively introduces us to the main characters but also the setting the film is based. In no time at all, you know you’re in for a fun ride.

The film is well written and explores the dynamics of the impact the Humber Bridge had on the community with a clear understanding of the history behind it. The motivations of lead character Joodi played by Lucy Blott are captivating and you can’t help but root for her. Blott really stands out and has a strong presence full of confidence and fun about her. The whole cast do a fantastic job and really bring an energy to the story.

The music from Paul Heaton creates a distinct musical identity to the film and keeps it part of the period it’s based in. Kudos to the cast for performing the music and creating a believable on-screen band which is very challenging to do. There is a real connection between Joodi and Paul played by Sam Waites, that jumps off the screen.

Director of Photography Jordan Carroll makes use of ambient lighting and light flares to create rich frames full of colour and depth whilst at the same time keeping embracing natural light. Carroll managed to develop a stand out look for the film which really elevated the production and final result. The same can be said of the locations, art direction and wardrobe which all work with careful attention to detail.

The story spanning several years meant the editing had to be handled carefully and tie in with the cinematography closely to create a steady pace. The use of archive footage was a great touch and connected us to the real events the film is based on. The sketch graphics were a wonderful way to add a youthful touch to the exposition that were an expression of Joodi’ inner thoughts.

The whole team involved in the project knocked it out of the park and created a film rarely seen on the short film circuit. We hope this is the beginning of their journey to expand this into a feature as the story is strong and would certainly entertain wider audiences…

— APEX Film Awards