The rise of a female 'comic' in the male dominated Working Men's Club circuit of Northern England in the 1970s is explored by this film.
Maxine Peake plays the funny cow of the title although Paddy Considine has top billing with a smaller role as some arty book seller.
Is the film based on the real life of the late Sheffield comedian Marti Caine? It certainly appears so.
Writer and star is Tony Pitts who certainly throws in a few Sheffield references although disappointingly the film appears to have been shot elsewhere.
The film does include some pretty raw subject matter such as alcoholism, suicide of the Alun Armstrong character but this is more than counter balanced by the performance of Peake.
The film confusingly at first zips between timelines of the Funny Cow's life from post war childhood featuring terraced houses, outdoor baths and domestic violence to the 1970s discovery of the Funny Cow talent.
If one looks at the history of Caine she did win the then talent show New Faces beating the likes of Victoria Wood and Lenny Henry. She did have an alcoholic mother. Lindsay Coulson (Eastenders) plays that tragic role.
Pitts appears to have written and starred in an enjoyable and thought provoking film. It's just a shame the real Crookes club couldn't have been used instead of some stand in.
Other highlights included a decent soundtrack and cameo from Sheffield musician Richard Hawley.
Maxine Peake plays the funny cow of the title although Paddy Considine has top billing with a smaller role as some arty book seller.
Is the film based on the real life of the late Sheffield comedian Marti Caine? It certainly appears so.
Writer and star is Tony Pitts who certainly throws in a few Sheffield references although disappointingly the film appears to have been shot elsewhere.
The film does include some pretty raw subject matter such as alcoholism, suicide of the Alun Armstrong character but this is more than counter balanced by the performance of Peake.
The film confusingly at first zips between timelines of the Funny Cow's life from post war childhood featuring terraced houses, outdoor baths and domestic violence to the 1970s discovery of the Funny Cow talent.
If one looks at the history of Caine she did win the then talent show New Faces beating the likes of Victoria Wood and Lenny Henry. She did have an alcoholic mother. Lindsay Coulson (Eastenders) plays that tragic role.
Pitts appears to have written and starred in an enjoyable and thought provoking film. It's just a shame the real Crookes club couldn't have been used instead of some stand in.
Other highlights included a decent soundtrack and cameo from Sheffield musician Richard Hawley.