England Is Mine 2017

In the drizzly and industrial landscape of 1970s Manchester, a brooding and introspective Steven Patrick Morrissey navigates the complex and often treacherous terrain of adolescence. A solitary figure with a deep passion for music, he seeks solace in his nocturnal excursions, immersing himself in the sounds that resonate within him. By day, he pours his thoughts and emotions onto paper, submitting critiques and musings to various music publications. However, the conflicting expectations of his parents only deepen his inner turmoil: while his father pushes him toward securing a steady job, his mother is keen on nurturing his writing ambitions.

The entrance of the free-spirited artist Linder Sterling brings a much-needed spark of creativity into Morrissey’s life, motivating him to turn his lyrics into raw, emotional performances. Yet, just as their friendship begins to flourish, she relocates to London, leaving Morrissey to grapple with the stark realities of adulthood. The pressure mounts as he struggles to carve out a sense of stability and purpose in a world seemingly intent on suppressing his artistic inclinations.

Amidst fleeting moments of joy and creative fulfillment, courtesy of guitarist Billy Duffy, who collaborates with him on songwriting projects and encourages him to explore singing, Morrissey’s frustrations bubble just beneath the surface. As time goes by, Duffy eventually distances himself, leaving Morrissey feeling increasingly adrift and disconnected.

It is within this backdrop of both artistic and personal stagnation that Johnny Marr, a soon-to-be collaborator who will help form The Smiths, suddenly appears at his doorstep in 1982. With Marr’s arrival, it seems as though the stage is set for Morrissey to finally find his footing and channel his creative energies into something substantial. But for the moment, he finds himself ensnared in an artistic limbo, torn between the longing to express himself authentically and the overwhelming pressures to conform to societal expectations.