A SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM BY MYLES DESENBERG ABOUT MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE IN THE NORTH-EAST OF ENGLAND
A MAN'S MAN
A searing and deeply personal journey into the lives of seven strangers from the North-East of England whose lives intersect at a weekly men's mental health support group.
Heart-wrenching and often confronting, this deeply compassionate and aesthetically rich film is a provocative exploration of what it means to be a man in the twenty-first century. Set against the backdrop of an ever-changing industrial heartland, where there is the highest rate of suicide in the country, A Man’s Man is an unflinching honest meditation on men's mental health, looking at the common bonds that bring us together, the struggles that tear us apart and the processes that lead to healing.
Through the eyes of these seven men, we see a group struggling with emotions in the face of violence, devoid of self-love and affected by trauma, each impacted by loneliness and isolation whilst grappling with their own vulnerabilities on a continued search for their place in this world. We are confronted with the devastating impact of toxic masculinity, the continued stigma surrounding mental health and the heart-breaking toll it inevitably takes.
Remarkably, we are also confronted by something else: the power of connection, the strength of community, and the hope that comes from sharing our stories. In the end, this is a film about the human spirit and the strength of enduring hope.
DIRECTORS NOTE
What drives me is a passion for capturing authentic real-life stories with a captivating visual aesthetic that delves deep into the complexities of the human experience. My aim is to provoke rich and meaningful conversations that shed light on the issues that matter most. Whether exploring the intricacies of personal identity or shining a light on the mechanisms that shape our society, my aim is to always try and create work that is thought-provoking and deeply resonant.
MYLES DESENBERG
Myles Desenberg's creative journey as a filmmaker began after completing a Fine Arts Degree in Sydney, Australia. Since then, Myles has been able to make a name for himself working across documentaries, commercials and branded content. Collaborating with some of the world's biggest brands including the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Toyota, his work has earned him a coveted Gold Lion at Cannes, with his first feature documentary, ‘Giving Up Your Day Job’ with dance music titans Above & Beyond, appearing in theatres globally.
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER / EDITOR
BEN COTGROVE
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Ben Cotgrove is an award-winning Australian cinematographer based in London, UK. With a diverse range of work across narrative, commercial and music promo. His work has screened at festivals including Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), SXSW, BFI London Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival. In 2021 Ben completed principal photography on ‘Closing Night’, his debut feature film as cinematographer, written and directed by Sundance alumni Tim Marshall. In 2022 Ben lensed the ITV commissioned short series ‘Life in Love’ which was the first series to premiere on OnlyFans before screening as part of the BFI London Film Festival and BFI Flare. A graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), he received a Masters of Film majoring in Cinematography from Griffith Film School, and was the recipient of the John Leake OAM ACS Emerging Cinematographer Award from the Australian Cinematographer’s Society (ACS). Ben was selected as a member of BAFTA Connect in 2022.
Andrew McDonnell is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in London. He has worked across multiple genres, film, fashion and moving image. His work has been featured on Radio 1, and British, European, US, Japanese and Korean television. Andrew has scored music for films for brands such as Calvin Klein, Adidas, Fendi, Adidas, Jo Malone, Hermes, Tiffany’s, La Mer, Paco Rabanne and publications such as US Vogue and Dazed & Confused. His contemporary approach to production and mixing has seen him work with such artists as The Crystal Fighters, Dot Alison, notably Scott Walker, through to remixing Top10 artists & musical directing a ballet with Martin Creed in Kyoto. A recent short film ‘The Stay’ (dir. we are animal), which Andrew scored and performed on has been shown at Cannes and Sundance film Festivals. And a recent animation, ’Cuties’ for the BFI (dir. Theo Scott) recently won the Northern Royal Television Society Award for best animation and has picked up a number of awards at festivals around the world.
James Latimer is an Irish composer, sound designer and audio producer for motion picture. James is a multi-instrumentalist and producer creating music and sound design for film, TV, commercial and community supported projects. James's work has featured on many internationally recognised films including the Oscar winning short film Stutterer and Toronto, IFTA & Aesthetica winning short film WAVE narrated by Jarvis Cocker. More recently the CANNES XR 2022 winning VR film directed by Michael O'Connor & Ben Cleary starring Taron Egerton and Lucy Boynton, Galway Film Fleadh Irish feature film winner Lakelands among a catalog of award winning films. Other recent notable projects include Love Yourself Today, Safe As Houses and 99 Problems. James is based in Dublin, Ireland.
ANDY MCDONNELL
JAMES LATIMER
MUSIC COMPOSER
SOUND DESIGNER
So long I have stood in line behind
my father, ready should he fall,
to step into his shape, his sweat,
and carry on as he did, but now
the time has come I find his work
already done, and mine another
life away should the money come.
John Challis
mylesdesenberg@me.com
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