This is England

Matblack · 07-03-2008, 16:01

I watched this today tucked up with beachams cold and flu tablets and a cup of tea.

A very, very interesting movie and throughly recommended

[But and this is very important, if you are going to watch it you have to watch it with an open and inquisitive mind and not assume the entire character development is going to be laid out for you, this is after all a quintessentially British film and not an American 'brain off' film.]

Revolving around the character of Shaun a 14 year old who is isolated TIE shows what it was like to grow up in the 80s and yes people really did dress like that! How high unemployment and deprivation caused racial tensions and how portions of the Skinhead movement made a transition from an excepting social group in to something far more sinister.

This is a beautiful film, shot as if someone had found a tardis and taken the crew and equipment back into the 80s the look is painfully authentic, from the clothes to the decor and the language, and so it should be as it is loosely based on the writers own experiences. But not only that, the cinematography is also very well done with some beautiful shots (check out the shots with the boat and the beach if you watch it).

This is not an easy film to watch and it is demanding of the viewer, causing you to make judgments and ask questions, its one of those films which you'll probably want to have discussions about afterwards; why did Combo act in that way, why did Milky ever get involved, what happened to Lol and Woody and what does that final scene really represent? Also when did Gilly get a film career!?!

Sometimes its good to have questions after watching something like this because it makes us question our own moral judgments of the characters.

In summary is this a beautiful and thought provoking movie and essential viewing for anyone who remembers the 80s.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/

IMDB Score 8 (based on 12,500 voters)
MB Score 8 1/2 (based on 1 voter)

MB

07-03-2008, 16:01	#1
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	This is England I watched this today tucked up with beachams cold and flu tablets and a cup of tea. A very, very interesting movie and throughly recommended [But and this is very important, if you are going to watch it you have to watch it with an open and inquisitive mind and not assume the entire character development is going to be laid out for you, this is after all a quintessentially British film and not an American 'brain off' film.] Revolving around the character of Shaun a 14 year old who is isolated TIE shows what it was like to grow up in the 80s and yes people really did dress like that! How high unemployment and deprivation caused racial tensions and how portions of the Skinhead movement made a transition from an excepting social group in to something far more sinister. This is a beautiful film, shot as if someone had found a tardis and taken the crew and equipment back into the 80s the look is painfully authentic, from the clothes to the decor and the language, and so it should be as it is loosely based on the writers own experiences. But not only that, the cinematography is also very well done with some beautiful shots (check out the shots with the boat and the beach if you watch it). This is not an easy film to watch and it is demanding of the viewer, causing you to make judgments and ask questions, its one of those films which you'll probably want to have discussions about afterwards; why did Combo act in that way, why did Milky ever get involved, what happened to Lol and Woody and what does that final scene really represent? Also when did Gilly get a film career!?! Sometimes its good to have questions after watching something like this because it makes us question our own moral judgments of the characters. In summary is this a beautiful and thought provoking movie and essential viewing for anyone who remembers the 80s. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/ IMDB Score 8 (based on 12,500 voters) MB Score 8 1/2 (based on 1 voter) MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"