This is England
Writer/director Shane Meadow's latest film This is England is powerful and impressive. It is a real slice of life film and shows us a group of people that are usually invisible.
The time period is 1983. The place is in midlands England (which is a very working class area). Margaret Thatcher is in charge and the war in the Falklands rages. The film starts off with a montage from that time period with Toots and the Maytals singing in the background.
It is the last day of the school year. 12 year old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is off to school. But things don't go well for him. He is constantly being picked on. He doesn't have anyone to confide in. His father died in the Falklands war and his mother has her hands full just trying to keep things together. Shaun is befriended by a group of skinheads and he finally feels that he is accepted. But when one of their members, Combo (Stephen Graham), returns from jail things take a turn. Combo splits the group. He blames immigrants for the high unemployment rate and he wants to take his frustration out on them as well as other minorities. It is well known that some skinheads were considered neo-Nazis. Combo takes Shaun under his wing and because he is looking for a father figure Shaun decides to stay with Combo. But it doesn't take him long to find out what Combo is really about.
This is England is based on Meadows' own experience. It shows how he has matured as a filmmaker (I remember his first film 24/7, which was good but a bit rough around the edges).
I look forward to seeing what he does in the future. The whole cast is good with the above mentioned young Turgoose and Graham being especially outstanding.
This is England is playing in a few theaters around the country. But it is also on IFC on Demand.
That is how I saw it. If you have this cable service then definitely rent. Otherwise, rent it when it comes out on DVD. You won't be sorry that you did.
The time period is 1983. The place is in midlands England (which is a very working class area). Margaret Thatcher is in charge and the war in the Falklands rages. The film starts off with a montage from that time period with Toots and the Maytals singing in the background.
It is the last day of the school year. 12 year old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is off to school. But things don't go well for him. He is constantly being picked on. He doesn't have anyone to confide in. His father died in the Falklands war and his mother has her hands full just trying to keep things together. Shaun is befriended by a group of skinheads and he finally feels that he is accepted. But when one of their members, Combo (Stephen Graham), returns from jail things take a turn. Combo splits the group. He blames immigrants for the high unemployment rate and he wants to take his frustration out on them as well as other minorities. It is well known that some skinheads were considered neo-Nazis. Combo takes Shaun under his wing and because he is looking for a father figure Shaun decides to stay with Combo. But it doesn't take him long to find out what Combo is really about.
This is England is based on Meadows' own experience. It shows how he has matured as a filmmaker (I remember his first film 24/7, which was good but a bit rough around the edges).
I look forward to seeing what he does in the future. The whole cast is good with the above mentioned young Turgoose and Graham being especially outstanding.
This is England is playing in a few theaters around the country. But it is also on IFC on Demand.
That is how I saw it. If you have this cable service then definitely rent. Otherwise, rent it when it comes out on DVD. You won't be sorry that you did.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:21 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home