Manchester feature film exposes harsh realities of neglected communities in ‘Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist’

The free screening of  “Nobody Loves you and You don’t deserve to exist” will take place on March 23rd at Leigh Film Factory, a volunteer-led cinema in Manchester, from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Gregory’s film has been praised for its timely and vital message, exploring life in Manchester under three Conservative Prime Ministers: Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, John Major in the 1990s, and Boris Johnson in the 2020s.

The film portrays the neglected regions of northern England and the working-class struggle, addressing issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, unemployment, and poverty.

The film follows protagonist Jack’s difficult upbringing under Margaret Thatcher’s government and his adulthood as an unemployed teacher during Boris Johnson’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shot almost entirely in Greater Manchester, the film highlights the current economic and social issues in the region, with 42% of children living in poverty.

‘Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist’ is a self-funded Manchester feature film written, directed and produced by Hulme-based Brett Gregory.

Speaking to I Love Manchester, Brett said:

“The film took over 6 years to complete and features many of the great landmarks in and around the city, such as Manchester Cathedral, Salford Lads Club and the Mancunium Roman Fort.

“Nearly all the cast and crew are based in Greater Manchester, and between them, they have appeared in Coronation Street, Brassic, Hollyoaks and Peaky Blinders.

“The composer, Andrew McCrorie-Shand, is based in Monmouth, Wales, and achieved an international #1 hit single in 1997 with ‘Teletubbies Say Eh Oh’.

“Inspiration for the film came from, amongst other things, the Conservative Government’s austerity cuts which swept through Greater Manchester following the banking crisis in 2008, leading to mass redundancies, increased debt and overall lower quality of life across the region.

“This is why it is so important that the screening at the volunteer-led Leigh Film Factory on March 23rd is in association with Manchester-based homeless charity, Lifeshare, and Wigan-based suicide prevention charity, EPiC HOPE.”

Lifeshare and EPiC HOPE, two charitable organizations that provide support for the homeless and those at risk of suicide, respectively, are proud to be involved in the screening.

Judith Vickers, Operations Manager at Lifeshare, states that “Any support or exposure we receive by way of incredible creative initiatives such as this means we can continue to fight for those who need our help.”

Ellie Palma-Cass, the founder of EPiC HOPE, highlights the importance of the film’s message, stating that “The prominence of suicide in Wigan, a mainly working-class region of Greater Manchester, and the recent cost of living crisis is no coincidence.

“It is direct evidence of communities left to fend for themselves in this time when they need help and support the most.”

Brett Gregory urges the public to watch the film and donate what they can. “Book your free tickets through Eventbrite, and watch a home-grown, hard-hitting film about human issues that matter,” he says. “Greater Manchester is blessed that charitable organisations like Lifeshare and EPiC HOPE work tirelessly around the clock and throughout the region to help to pick up the pieces, address the issues, and break the cycle.”

You can get your tickets by clicking here.