A film which was shot in Weymouth won’t be screened at local cinemas.

Two For Joy was released in UK cinemas yesterday – however, Cineworld says it won’t be screening the new film, despite it being shot in Weymouth and Ringstead Bay.

Filming for the coming-of-age drama took place during September last year with the Echo reporting that stars Samantha Morton and Emilia Jones had been spotted near Weymouth seafront.

A spokesman for Cineworld said: “Cineworld will not be screening Two for Joy in our cinemas, however, there are many other exciting movies that will be showing at Cineworld in the coming months such as Night School, A Star is Born and Johnny English Strikes Again.”

Dorchester's Odeon and Dorchester's Plaza Cinema also have no plans to screen the film.

Cllr Richard Kosior, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for tourism, said: “It’s a bit of a shame, you would have thought they would release the film where it was shot because it would get more publicity.

“I can’t understand why they wouldn’t do it. But it was still made in Weymouth and those who see the film will recognise it along with Ringstead Bay. It’s all good publicity and that’s what we need sorely.”

He added that it “It feels very similar to what happened with On Chesil Beach” which wasn’t shown at any of Dorchester’s cinemas, and residents in Weymouth had to wait a week after its general release to see it at Cineworld.

Two For Joy was directed by Tom Beard and produced by Hollywood star and Fashion designer Sadie Frost and Emma Comley.

 

The film focuses on one British family’s life, navigating their way through grief following their father’s death. Vi, a teenager, is forced to grow up fast, caring for her mother, who struggles with mental health, and her younger brother Troy. The trio decide to take a trip to their late father/husband’s idyllically placed caravan, overlooking the sea.

Director Tom Beard said: “The film deals with some serious, British, topical themes that have been short-changed by the government, and under-represented on our screens – mental illness, young carers, child abuse and bereavement.”

Part of the film was shot at The Creek Caravan Park in Ringstead.

Mr Beard said: “I didn’t want the film to be to obviously of one era – the caravan park helped in that respect as the location hadn’t changed since I used to go there as a child. I liked the feeling of being in a time warp.

“These are timeless locations, mixing kitsch with modern.”

Two For Joy stars Samantha Morton, Emilia Jones, Billie Piper, Daniel Mays, Bella Ramsey and Badger Skelton.