Jake West’s documentary retraces the life of a singular individual: Cliff Twemlow, an opportunistic, fascinating figure of Manchester’s counter-culture of the 1980s. Self-made star and film producer for the direct-to-VHS market, Twemlow built up a motley crew of fellow would-be actors eager to appear on-screen – any screen.
Mancunian Man, a window into a period when video stores reigned supreme, also reflects its subjects’ tremendous creative energy. Cliff and his friends created a genre of their own, driven by a deep desire to make movies. Jake West revives the legend for today’s audiences.