Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Sky Arts have announced a free screening of The Brontës by Anita Rani: Sisters of Disruption on 7 May as part of the Creative Cities Convention, ahead of being available to watch on Sky Arts, Freeview, and streaming platform NOW on 20 May.
Bradford 2025 is a year-long celebration of Bradford city and district, showcasing the rich history of the district and spotlighting its dynamic contemporary culture in all forms. The district is birthplace of the Brontës, whose legacy is an inspiration to the new generation of wordsmiths, spoken word artists and poets in the district.
Partly autobiographical, this new programme traces Anita’s relationship with the Brontës as she heads back to her hometown of Bradford, recalling her first encounter with them at school and her experience of growing up with the stunning landscape of Haworth and the moors on her doorstep.
Anita also meets fellow Brontë fans and literary experts to discuss how and why these sisters became ground-breaking ‘literary disruptors’ whose work still feels relevant and influential today.
Executive producer Mark Robinson said: “The legacy of the astounding work of Anne, Charlotte and Emily Brontë continues to reverberate around the world – they were challenging the patriarchy two hundred years ago.
“The worlds the sisters created have influenced culture across the centuries – from Kate Bush to Taylor Swift, Game of Thrones to Saltburn. As well as looking at how they inspired her, Anita will also discover just what made them so subversive – and very different to the timid image so frequently associated with them.”
Commissioning Editor, Sky, Barbara Lee said: “I’m really excited about this documentary. The Brontë sisters were the original disruptors of literature. They were uncompromising feminist trailblazers, despite being the unlikeliest of rebels. Bradford born and bred broadcaster and author Anita Rani is the perfect guide, given how passionate she is about the Brontës’ writing, their legacy and their impact on her own life.”
Anita Rani said: “These strong, unearthly sisters fed into my psyche and made me think anything was possible. I related to the darkness and tragedy in the Brontës’ lives…they had as much impact on me as Neneh Cherry, The Smiths and Goldie.”
“In this film I’m going to explore how these women – so full of rage – changed my life, and the world. Growing up, romance wasn’t on the cards. Bollywood felt distant. But Heathcliff…well, he could have been Indian – dark hair, dark features…why would he not be?”
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with presenter Anita Rani and Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
