Pirate Radio

Pirate Radio depicts an era in England in which the government declared rock immoral, hence illegal on the airwaves. So, those in love with the genre took to the high seas, anchored Radio Rock outside of British waters, and transmitted the music to nearly half the country. This film’s boat is full of fun characters and the very small world in which they live is dominated by the broadcast studios onboard. The music is the loud and empowering music of the 1960s, and the DJs, including one newsman are passionate about their mission. And they become their own characters for their listeners, with the newsman often giving updates on so-and-so’s wedding on the ship or the rivalry between two DJs. The fun begins when young Carl (Tom Sturridge) comes aboard, sent by his mother to accompany his godfather (Bill Nighy), who oversees the ship’s command. While being an homage to rock, Pirate Radio is also a coming-of-age tale for Carl, who is young and fatherless, looking for direction in life. Tinseltown. Rated R