Brassed Off (1996)

The fate of a coal mine and a brass band are inexplicable tied together in Brassed Off (1996), a dramedy that takes places in Grimley, a small British town that is dominated by a coal mine where most of the town’s inhabitants work. Above ground, the Grimley Colliery Band, an award winning brass ensemble, lead by Danny (Pete Postlewaite), is the town’s only source of pride and joy. With word of the mine closing down, the coal miners/musicians don’t have the heart to compete in an upcoming national championship. When famed flugelhorn player Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald) comes back to the village, she rekindles a romance with fellow horn player Andy (Ewan McGregor), and injects some life into the dying band that’s quite possible heading towards the unemployment line. No stranger to nudity, McGregor, in the opening credits, shows off his shiny brass as he gets out of the shower. Even though it is brief, McGregor’s clean coal will have you blowing your horn or wetting your whistle.