Kate Beckinsale

Farming (2019)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Image of young Nigerian man (leader) standing outside, with his white skinhead gang standing behind him.

Movie Poster for Farming ©IMDb

Writer: Adewale Akinnuage – Agbaje
Director: Adewale Akinnuage – Agbaje
Starring: Kate Beckinsdale, Gugu Mbath-lraw and Adewale Akinnuage- Agbaje
Production Company: Groundswell Production
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Gillingham

Farming (2019) takes the audience on a journey through childhood memories of the film’s director Adewale Akinnuage-Agbaje, who, as a young Nigerian boy, was given to a white British family by his own parents in the hope of a better future. However, tables turn as he goes on to become the feared leader of a white skinhead gang.

Farming stars actor turned director Adewale Akinnuage – Agbaje (Suicide Squad, Watership Down) as Femi, Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor, Underworld: Blood Wars) as Ingrid Carpenter, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Black Mirror, Belle) as Ms. Dapo, and Jaime Winstone (Love, Rosie, Tomb Raider) as Lynn.

There were two Kent locations used in Farming. At the first, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, various areas such as at The Joiner’s Shop, House Carpenters Shop, and the rear of The Smithery, Ropery and Anchor Wharf were used.

Production also visited a jewellery shop in Gillingham for some further scenes.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, spans over 80 Acres, with over 100 buildings and structures dating back to the Georgian and Victorian era. The dockyard has previously featured in productions such as Yardie (2018) and Level Up (2016).

Gillingham is also located in the district of Medway.

The film will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 11th October 2019.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Cold Comfort Farm poster- 6 characters standing facing the camera in a frame. Cold Comfort Farm is written in white on top

Cold Comfort Farm poster © BBC, Thames Television

Director: John Schlesinger

Writer: Malcolm Bradbury (screenplay), Stella Gibbons (novel)

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, Sheila Burrell, Stephen Fry, Freddie Jones, Joanna Lumley, Ian McKellen

Production Company: BBC, Thames Television

Kent Locations Used: Kent and East Sussex Railway, Royal Military Canal

Cold Comfort Farm is a BBC adaption of Stella Gibbons’ novel of the same name. Set in early 1930’s England, the story focuses on young Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale) who is left penniless when her parents die and goes to stay with distant relatives on Cold Comfort Farm. Flora makes it her mission to improve the lives of the miserable inhabitants.

The TV movie parodies the romanticised, sometimes doom-laden accounts of rural life and is directed John Schlesinger (Marathon Man, The Next Best Thing) and written by Malcolm Bradbury (The Gravy Train, In the Red).

Kate Beckinsale (The Aviator, Underworld) takes the leading role of Flora alongside Eileen Atkins (Cold Mountain, Robin Hood), Sheila Burrell (Jane Eyre, Perfect Strangers), Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), Freddie Jones (The Elephant Man, Dune), Joanna Lumley (Corpse Bride, Absolutely Fabulous) and Ian McKellen (The Hobbit Series, Vicious).

The production filmed on location in Kent at Kent & East Sussex Railway which provided the trains for Flora’s journey from London to her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm and Northiam station which is the fictional railway station of Beershorne.

The Royal Military Canal was also used for scenes where Flora and Amos (Ian McKellen) walk and chat.

Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten and a half mile rural light period railway which runs between Tenterden and East Sussex. The railway has also been used for filming by productions such as Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016) and Last Passenger (2013).

The Royal Military Canal runs for 28 miles between Seabrook near Folkestone and end at Cliff End near Hastings. The canal passes the iconic Romney Marsh, tranquil countryside and quiet villages and has a footpath for the entire stretch.

Cold Comfort Farm was broadcast on 1 January 1995 and is now available for DVD purchase.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.