Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hits Birmingham cinemas this weekend before streaming on Netflix. At a star-studded ceremony, I saw a sad reflection just off the red carpet.
Cast and crew of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal man on the red carpet, the fountain pool reflecting the logo behind(Image: Dave Benett/WireImage)
Standing with my back to a gigantic Peaky Blinders logo on fire, I paused on a portion of red carpet to drink in one of the most impressive views of our city there is.
The Birmingham REP, our premier producing theatre, sits proudly beside the library, illuminated in blue, the home of so many timeless tales and cradle for so many future Birmingham greats.
They lined the crimson walkway towards the swanky world premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man where Steven Knight, Cillian Murphy and only Tim Roth from all those bloody brilliant Quentin Tarantino movies would be among those introducing the new flick.
Read more: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man premiere recap Cillian Murphy hits red carpet at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall
It’s a red route that took global celebrities along to the Symphony Hall, the home of the inspiring City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the first municipally funded orchestra EVER in Britain.
The flaming giant logo, the lights beaming up into the Birmingham sky to tell anyone looking from anywhere that something cool was happening, reflected in the water that had pooled over the fountains.
Yes, THOSE fountains.
The fountains that have been as dry as a spilled Broad Street Dixy Chicken wing on a Monday morning after a wild Saturday night for the last two-and-a-bit bleeding years.
The beautiful, dancing fountains that burst over the shallow pool that, in summer, kids loved to take the little shoes off and run through before they came to a stop in October 2023.
Cooling off in the fountains of Centenary Square.(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Passers-by had watched as, earlier in the day, hoses had been used to create a reflective surface from which the Peaky logo could reflect in time for the sparkling do.
It looked absolutely spectacular. Any global celebrity heading to see Steven Knight’s latest film about Birmingham’s most notorious crime family would have looked upon it all without an iota of doubt that ours is a world class city in every way.
And it bothered me. Why is there water when the celebrities come, but there’s no water for our own babbies to splash in?
Centenary Square is a place we can all be proud of. Over time, Birmingham kids have turned the dry fountain space into a skating rink, blasting tunes and whizzing around laughing with their friends.
They’ve made the best of it. But we want our fountains back!
The water springs up in sight of the Hall of Memory, hand-crafted by Brummies, paid for by the public and designed in memory of the 12,320 of our loved ones who died in the Great War, as well as the 35,000 wounded.
On ordinary Birmingham days, it should be the very pride of our city, this neighbourhood. And it is.
But in a city with such an intensely depressing rate of child poverty, filled with so many facing constant difficulties and challenges, can’t we please prioritise giving them joyful places to come together, to play and dance and splash and be together without spending a single quid?
The Peaky Blinders movie is ace, a World War II follow-up to the TV series that took Birmingham to the world.
You’re going to love it if you go to see it at the Mockingbird Cinema, the Everyman or on Netflix when it’s live on March 20.
I walked out of there with a sense of pride of the role Birmingham plays in it all. The way Netflix and its creators chose to come home to celebrate its very first screening.
But I couldn’t help but think, if the eyes of the world were looking to Centenary Square, now would be a good time to send a message to Birmingham City Council.
You’re not bankrupt any more. Put the fountains on, will you?
BirminghamLive contacted Birmingham City Council to enquire about the future of the fountains. We’ll be back with you if they respond.