Elsewhere in today’s Scene section, you will read how 1980s pop survivor Rick Astley has come to the realisation that his songs no longer belong to him, but “to the people who want to hear them”.
English one-hit-wonder Drew Lord Haig (Aidan Gillen) discovers the dark side of this truth in Nostalgie, the debut short drama from award-winning documentary filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson (Nothing Compares).
Unlike Astley, this faded 1980s synthpop crooner never found a second wind: instead, the post-fame Haig has re-invented himself as an IT entrepreneur while keeping one foot in the past with paid musical appearances for those who still remember his big song, the anthemic Shady Lane.
However, it’s the moody B-side, Nostalgie - as in ‘nostalgie de la boue’ - which brings Haig to the outskirts of Belfast to perform at a private ‘centenary event’, the precise details of which he has unwisely neglected to investigate.
Penned by Belfast writer/director Stacey Gregg based on Wendy Erskine’s short story, Ferguson’s short film follows the source material fairly closely as it tracks the blissfully ignorant Haig’s solo journey across the Irish Sea to the remote, flag-festooned bar at which he’s been booked.
Read more: Belfast director Kathryn Ferguson on why Nothing Compares to Sinéad O’Connor
“My first time to Northern Ireland,” he remarks cheerfully to a young Belfast musician (Jessica Reynolds) on the ferry, while sipping a pint of Guinness and proudly toting a hardback copy of Anna Burns’ Milkman.
“It’s quite cool these days - a bit like Berlin.”
“Is it?,” she chuckles, before returning to her own book: Samuel Beckett’s Endgame.
Unfortunately, Haig fails to spot this portent of impending doom: before long he’s at the venue and face-to-face with the first of his adoring fans.
“F***ing hell, you look exactly like you did on Top of The Pops,” lies Jimmy (Michael Smiley), ingratiatingly.
“As I said in my email, your song’s our anthem. It might be your B-side, but it’s our A-side.
“Oh, and by the way, The Brigadier is looking forward to meeting you.”
Read more: Author Wendy Erskine on her new short story collection Dance Move
By now, you might have twigged what’s going on, but Haig remains blinded by the tantalising opportunity to relive his glorious pop past for the assembled, 99 per cent male crowd.
When the appalling revelation about the unusual significance of his whimsical pop stylings finally arrives, it’s much too late for Haig to make an Irish exit.
A promising debut foray into fiction-based film for director Ferguson, the stylishly shot Nostalgie is an amusingly squirm-inducing watch bolstered by a small but excellent cast (including Seamus O’Hara), and the soundtrack ain’t bad either.
Written for the film by Bastille man Dan Smith, Drew Lord Haig’s set of catchy, period-correct tunes are crooned convincingly by Gillen throughout his increasingly hellish live engagement.
On the evidence of Nostalgie, the Dublin actor may have missed his 1980s synthpop calling.
Nostalgie will screen as part of the Belfast Film Festival’s Competition Shorts programme on Saturday November 1 at QFT Belfast at 2.30pm. Tickets and full festival programme via belfastfilmfestival.org.
