Morrissey’s childhood friend slams biopic England Is Mine

England is Mine, the unofficial Morrissey biopic which closed this year's Edinburgh Film Festival on Sunday, has come in for some criticism from the singer's childhood friend James Maker, although it seems that Maker’s criticism is based on seeing the trailer rather than the actual film. Most of his complaints seem to be about director Mark Gill’s aesthetic choices: “I knew the house at 384 Kings Road. Morrissey’s mother should sue the filmmakers on their misrepresentation of her curtaining alone,” Marker wrote on Facebook.

Maker also takes offence at the physical appearance of the teenage Morrissey in the film, as played by talented Scottish actor Jack Lowden. “According to the trailer of England Is Mine,” he writes, “Morrissey was an autistic, retiring creature with both curly hair and a natural crimp, who had to be physically pushed into becoming a singer by a well-meaning friend​ (one who did not actually communicate with Morrissey throughout The Smiths' success)​. Worse, they have put him in a green duffle coat and given him not one line of the Morrissyean wit we have all come to know.”

Maker, who danced onstage with The Smiths in their early days, and formed a band himself with Raymonde and RPLA, goes on to call England is Mine “not a biopic, but historical fiction”.

We feel this is a bit hard on the filmmakers, given that Maker appears to have only seen two minutes of the 94-minute movie; we also sense a touch of sour grapes at not being included in the film himself. "I am relieved not to be included," he writes, "because if they can portray the protagonist as a person with crimped hair who relies upon guiding hands on shoulders, to thrust him through life’s revolving doors, then I am merely someone who, miraculously, managed to venture​​ further than the 'NO BALL GAMES' sign posted adjacent to my bedroom window. "

Read Maker’s full statement and watch the trailer below.

England Is Mine is released 4 Aug by EntertainmentOne; you’ll be able to make your own minds up then. Until then, check out our review of England Is Mine from the closing night of EIFF