Captioned cinema previews to continue with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (BSL)

Deaf cinemagoers will be able to attend captioned preview screenings for another film later this month, it has been confirmed, with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry following in the footsteps of Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves.

Just over 600 people saw a captioned preview of the Dungeons and Dragons movie on 29 March, in one of 37 cinemas operated by either Picturehouse or The Light, ahead of its UK official release two days later.

Front of house staff from both chains were also be offered basic training in British Sign Language from a qualified tutor ahead of the release, from the charity Chloe and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund (CSSEF).

Karen Jackson of CSEEF said: “It’s 2023, we need to wake up and realise that with over 11 million deaf people in the UK, cinema just hasn’t been accessible.

“Change needs to happen, and [film production and distribution company] eOne have taken a bold step.”

Based on the book of the same name by Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry stars Harry Potter actor Jim Broadbent and Shaun of the Dead’s Penelope Wilton in a “story of a man who leaves his seaside town in South Devon to deliver a message to an old friend”.

The film’s description continues: “Harold Fry was never meant to be a hero. He’s an unremarkable man who has failed at all the important things: being a husband, a father and a friend.

“Now, well into his 60s, he is content to fade quietly into the background of life. But when Harold learns his friend Queenie is dying, he is moved to act.

“Surprising himself as much as his wife Maureen, Harold embarks on a walk of hope, determined to travel the length of England to save his friend.”

The film will be officially released into cinemas on 28 April, but individuals will be able to attend captioned previews at The Picturehouse and The Light cinemas on both 23 and 24 April.

The scheme is the latest move by film distributors to improve the cinema experience for Deaf movie fans, after both Creed III and Dungeons and Dragons saw Deaf individuals invited to attend a captioned premiere screening.

However, some Deaf celebrities who went to the premiere – including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Samantha Baines and Hermon and Heroda Berhane – later took to Instagram to express disappointment with being placed in a separate screening room to hearing attendees.

The Limping Chicken approached eOne for comment about whether a captioned premiere would take place for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry alongside the subtitled previews – like Dungeons and Dragons last month – but no statement was given.

Photo: eOne UK/YouTube.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.