Julien Temple reveals plans for Kinks feature (Variety)

British director Julien Temple is plotting a feature film about legendary British band The Kinks.

You’ve Really Got Me will focus on the intense relationship between brothers Ray and Dave Davies, who formed the band in North London in 1964, and will explore how The Kinks drew on the music hall tradition as well as rock and roll to create their sound. Temple is collaborating on the project with Ray Davies on the film’s approach before a work begins in a screenplay.

Speaking to ScreenDaily, Temple said: “At the heart of it is the extraordinary love-hate relationship between these two brothers: love/hate, sibling rivalry is at the core. I think it’s a very rich social, cultural nexus around The Kinks. Their story is the untold story of all those big bands of the 1960s.”

The cast has yet to be announced but Temple says the actors will be required to play The Kinks music. “I think you would want to have the music played by the actors…that is believable and real while miming is problematic.”

You’ve Really Got Me will be Temple’s latest look at the social history of Britain through its music scene following his previous films The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle, The Filth and The Fury and his new film, Oil City Confidential, a rousing account of the life and times of Canvey Island pub rock group Dr Feelgood.

Oil City Confidential, which is being sold internationally by Hanway, will be launched across the UK with a “live” cinema event distributed by Arts Alliance Media on February 2. Screenings of the film will be accompanied by a concert beamed live from Koko in London, with a special red carpet introduction by Temple.

The concert will feature original Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson and his band, ex-Blockhead musicians bassist Norman Watt Roy and drummer Dylan Howe, and also will feature other special guests drawn from the directorial career of Temple.

“By bringing together Arts Alliance Media, EMI records and in the UK, The Mint Group (owners of Koko), we have the cinema, music and live event industries, working together,” commented producer Stephen Malit

Another new feature doc by the prolific Temple, Requiem For Detroit, about the decay and industrial collapse of America’s fourth largest city, will premiere on the BBC in early January. Temple has revealed that the film will be broadcast in a 75 minute version but should also be available in a 90 minute “theatrical” cut.

Temple is also attached to direct Fake!, the long-gestating project about art hoaxer Elmyr de Hory that is being produced through Film & Music Entertainment. It is due to shoot next year.