Still Pushing Pineapples

Still Pushing Pineapples | 2025 | 12A | Dir. Kim Hopkins | UK | IMDb 7.8 | English | 92 mins

The film’s title references the lyrics of Black Lace’s hit single from 1984: Agadoo, and charts the fortunes of Leeds born singer, Dene Michael as he continues to push those pineapples around Britain’s club circuit and beyond.  From Blackpool to Benidorm, we follow Dene as he performs a string of Black Lace hits in a variety of colourful venues.

Still Pushing Pineapples is a documentary from Yorkshire’s own Kim Hopkins and will form the centre piece of her ‘Working Class trilogy’ which opened with ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ in 2022. The series will conclude with ‘The Local’ a film about the Jacob’s Well pub in Bradford and will be coming to cinemas near you very soon.        

During the filming process the cameras followed Dene, his Mum and Dene’s partner, Hayley for two and a half years at home and on the road!  A process that might have become intrusive and in different hands resulted in a negative portrayal.  But Dene trusted the process having seen and really taken to the tone and style of ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’.  Kim’s motto at labour of love films is ‘Always try to be kind’ while retaining the honesty within her work. The result of what we see on the screen is a really honest and touching depiction of what fame and success is and what people do to achieve fame and be successful.   

Still Pushing Pineapples opened the 2025 Sheffield Documentary Film Festival in its world premiere. A film which Kim describes herself as: “an ode to resilience, but also to joy, humour and to the spirit of ordinary working-class people.”  It is a poignant real-life drama as Dene pursues his dreams, as well as an important film reflecting on British working-class life.   And in the words of Graham Chalmers & Charles Hutchinson in their podcast interview with Kim last year (See below for details) – warning, contains spoiler alert – “any film that ends with the lead character inside a Giant Pineapple costume is also a funny film.” Graham also stresses its importance comparing it to a great Ken Loach film except it is based on reality rather than fiction.     

I feel sure our members will recall Harrogate Film Society’s special screening of a ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ back in 2024, a documentary about the Bradford Movie Makers who together made up one of the oldest amateur filmmaking clubs in the world.  The event included an excellent Q & A with director Kim Hopkins and much of the cast.

We intend on making our screening of ‘Still Pushing Pineapples’ in Season 71 an equally special event and have chosen one of our ‘socials’ for the occasion.  So, please dig out your loudest Hawaiian shirt, and in preparation dust off that Black Lace Greatest Hits Album in your vinyl collection and ‘Do, do, do’ join us on 4 January 2027 for what promises to be another great HFS night out!

The next two paragraphs are details on the podcast including the link:

If you wish to find out more about the film, we recommend tuning in to Episode 247 of the ‘Two Big Egos in a Small Car’ Podcast: “A passionately laid-back overview of the arts and culture scene in York and Harrogate with observations on journalism. This podcast is hosted by Charles Hutchinson and Graham Chalmers and regular guests.” 

In this episode Graham & Charles interview Director Kim Hopkins & Star Dene Michael.  Click on the link below to access: https://twobigegos.buzzsprout.com/1187561/episodes/18266909-episode-247-agadoo-interview-special-with-kim-hopkins-and-dene-michael-still-pushing-pineapples

·       Screen 5

·       Doors open 6.45pm and our New Year Social includes a free glass of wine or soft drink

·       Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.30pm

·       Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from Odeon staff

·       Unreserved seating

·       We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby

·       DVD for members available to borrow from our library