top of page

The Soldier on Smithdown Road

The Soldier on Smithdown Road is inspired by the actions of my grandparents, Louis and Rae Scholes.

1947. Two British soldiers are kidnapped and murdered in Mandate Palestine. In the aftermath of the so-called 'Sergeants Affair’, a wave of antisemitic riots sweep across the UK. In Liverpool, Louis Scholnick, a British-Jewish World War II veteran, is forced to defend his family’s shop from a violent mob.

Co-directed with Thomas Harnett O'Meara.

Awards and Nominations 

Winner, 2023 Pears Short Film Fund at UK Jewish Film

Winner, Critic Choice, Tottenham Film Festival 2024

Winner, Best Costume, Wolverhampton Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Short Film, Worcester Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Costume Design, Worcester Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Hair & Make-Up, Worcester Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Production Design, Wolverhampton Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Sound Design, Wolverhampton Film Festival 2024

Nominee, Best Original Score, Fastnet Film Festival 2024

Runner Up, Ealing Film Festival 2024

Semifinalist, Cannes Indie Shorts Awards 2024

Directed by Barney Pell Scholes and Thomas Harnett O’Meara

Written by Barney Pell Scholes

 

Producer for UK Jewish Film – Benjamin Till

Executive Producers:

Michael Etherton

Judy Ironside MBE

Jöelle Bentolila

Kefi Chadwick

 

Louis - Eddie Toll

Rachel - Sophie Angelson

Meyer - Leslie Davidoff

Fanny - Kitty Martin

Mr Graham - Raymond Waring

Harry (Barman) - Mark Rice Oxley

Alan - Philip Shaun McGuiness

Mob Leader - Alexander Anderson

Opening Narration - David Riley

Cinematography – Brenden Freedman

Editor - Olly Stothert

BFE Composer - George Hinson

1st Assistant Director – Ben Plimley

1st Assistant Camera - Alex Coleborn

2nd Assistant Camera - Riccardo Angei

Gaffer - Charles Power

Spark - James Owens

Production Coordinator - Daisy Pell Scholes

Props - Leah Revivo

Hair - Aliha Kosar MUA

Runner - Keiran Hughes

Production Sound Mixer - Matt Jones

1st Assistant Sound - Dafydd Mann

Casting Director - Beth Charkham

Costume Designer - Jane Spicer

Thanks to Angels Costumes

Storyboard Artist - Matt Sinclair

Graphic Designer - Flaminia Rossi

Yiddish Language Consultant - Dr Helen Beer

Offline Edit House - Flock

Edit Post Producer - Arlinda Craven

Thanks to Lucky Cat

Post Supervising Sound Editor / Re-recording Mixer - Will Cohen

Dialogue Editor - Lawrence Kendrick

Sound Effects Editor - Nigel Manington

Audio Producer - Alina Miroshnichenko

Foley Artist - Gareth Rhys Jones

Foley Mixer-  Julien Pirrie

Foley Editors - Paul Iché and Raphaela Dowding-Green

Audio Post Production - String and Tins

Foley provided by The Foley Barn

Guitarist - George Hinson

Music Supervisor - Will Cohen

Colourist - Daniela Rotaru

VFX - Sean Moran

Post Production Producers - Andrew Patrick and Bella Baillie

Post Production - Glassworks

VFX Camera and Lighting Hire - PixiPixel Camera and Lighting

Hire Coordinator - Howard Davidson

Filmed on Location at the Black Country Living Museum Black Country Living Museum Coordinators - Kate Kirkpatrick and

Joe Whitehouse

Archive Footage sourced from CriticalPast

 

Supporting Artists:

Mob Member #1 - Ryan Bradley

Mob Member #2 - Michael Scholes

Adam Ainsworth

Lisa Jayne Bate

Bryce Bealey

Andy Biddle

Paul Dean

Gregory Dunn

Jon Godsi

Jon Hearn

Rob Hillary

Felix Lettau,

Solomon Yossel Simpson-Little

David Scholes

Rory Waudby-Tolley

Will Warnock

 

Thanks to:

Maurice Abboudi

Iris Abols

Jöelle Bentolila

Daisy Garside

Gila Godsi

Ben Hillary

 Rob Hillary

Janet Pell,

Aimée Robinson

David Scholes

Stuart Scholes

Lesley Scholes

Michael Scholes

This film was financed by Pears Short Film Fund at UK Jewish Film.

UK Jewish Film Festival
Pears Foundation
bottom of page