Morris: A Life with Bells On Trailer (2010)

The trailer for Morris: A Life with Bells On, a heartwarming feature length comedy shot in documentary format that follows the fortunes of one of the leading Morris teams in the country, Millsham Morris, and in particular those of its avant garde leader, Derecq Twist.

On the one hand Derecq is a traditionalist – when we join him he is preparing to perform the ultimate Morris Dance, the mystical and legendary Threeple Hammer Damson – and yet on the other, he is pioneering an innovative and daring freeform brand of dancing – Extreme Morris.

Innovation and invention are frowned upon by the Morris Circle, the dark and sinister governing body of Morris dancing and following a series of warnings over their conduct, its Chief Executive, Quentin Neely, expels both Derecq and his team from the Circle thereby preventing him from completing the Threeple Hammer Damson; his life’s ambition.

Derecq recovers from this blow to form New Morris. All is going smoothly when tragedy strikes once more.

Derecq, now a beaten man, contemplates giving up Morris until the Producer of the documentary persuades him to go to Los Angeles and dance with the flamboyant Morris men of Orange County, the OCM’s.

Derecq finds artistic freedom in Los Angeles, falls in love for the first time and then follows his heart to Iowa to start a new life with his beloved, Sonja.

However, life is rarely as simple as it is in the movies. Is Sonja’s love enough to keep Derecq in America? Can he really face a life without Morris dancing? Or will the lack of real cider in the States finally push him over the edge..?