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.