THIS IS ENGLAND
UK, 2007, 101 minutes, Colour.
Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham, Jo Hartley, Andrew Shin, Vicky Mc Clure, Joseph Gilgun, Rosamund Hanson, Jack O' Connell.
Directed by Shane Meadows.
If this is not England today – and that is the interesting question the film raises – then it is the England of a quarter of a century earlier. The opening provides a collage of images of the period, ranging from miners and strikers to skinheads, to Mrs Thatcher and the royal family – and always the Falklands War.
This is more than a semi-autobiographical story by writer-director Shane Meadows. This is a personal memoir, something of a confession and a document of hope that one need not be trapped forever in one’s past.
Sean (played by Thomas Turgoose, a believable young newcomer who acts with an attractive and off-putting blend of charm and defiance) lives in the area around Nottingahm with his widowed mother. His father, whom he loves and misses, has died in the Falklands action. His mother tries to cope. Sean is picked on at school by bullies and by the authorities. A group of skinhead lads and their girlfriends take a liking to Sean and he becomes part of their group, even to having his head shaved and putting on approved clothes. He delights in belonging somewhere. The leader, Woody (Joe Gilgun), takes care of him.
When Woody’s friend, Combo (an intense performance by Stephen Graham) is released from gaol, he also takes a shining to Sean. But, Combo and his mates from gaol, are the forerunners of the British National Party and spew out their bigotry, racism and spite in dialogue that is chilling and alarming. This is where audiences can wonder whether now This is England.
Sean gets caught up in all of this, despite Woody’s pulling out and not wanting to be brainwashed. Sean attacks the local ‘Paki’ storekeeper but later has some doubts when Combo, rejected by Woody’s girlfriend, savagely bashes Milky, an Asian member of the group,
Then the troops come back from the Falklands and Sean has to face growing up and what this background of the Midlands has meant.
Shane Meadows obviously came through it and has the films, Twentyfour Seven, A Room for Romeo Brass, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands and Dead Man’s Shoes to prove it.
1. England in the 1980s? The years of Margaret Thatcher? The Falklands War, the speeches? Regional England, education, the sub-groups, employment and unemployment, gangs, racism, the 21st century perspective?
2. The portrait of the town, families, the gangs, the streets, under the bridges, the cafes, the meetings? The musical score?
3. England in the 1970s and 1980s? Change? The election of Margaret Thatcher? Her saying there was no such thing as society? The financial situation of the UK, the alliance with Ronald Reagan, the Falklands War and the propaganda pieces? The nation emerging during the 1980s? The National Front, the racism, xenophobia, the ideology? The use of clips from the period, especially for Margaret Thatcher and the war?
4. Sean, age, his father fighting in the Falklands, his photo, his death? His son and his love for him, hurt? The mother, at home, trying to do her best for Sean?
5. Sean, his age, the situation, the last day of school, emotions, getting into trouble, fights, the teachers? The comment on education?
6. Sean, the encounter with the group under the bridge, his being in the fight, Woody and his friendship, the skinhead group, their friendship, spending the summer with them? The mild gang? The boys, the girls, Smell/Michelle, a sense of belonging, the parties, being together, the beach, enjoyment? Having his head shaved? The girl doing it, his mother and her reaction? Smell and her accepting being his girlfriend?
7. Combo, his arrival, the past leadership, in prison, the clash with Woody, ousting him, the ideology, the other members of the group and their having a choice, those staying, those leaving, the Jamaican saying he was English? Sean staying?
8. The speaker, his rent, xenophobia, messages of patriotism and empire? Combo and his eager support? Growing fanaticism?
9. Sean, caught up, sharing the perspective, going round with the group? Combo and his influence? The statement about the Falklands, Sean reacting, Combo’s apology?
10. Woody, different, his ideas, his girlfriend and the past with Combo, his confronting her, the memories of the sexual encounter, leaving?
11. The differences, clashes, the young men, moving out, the violent responses? Ideology versus friendship?
12. Sean, the challenge, his age, his falling out with the racists, going to the sea, tossing the emblem into the water?
13. Seeing this past through Sean’s eyes? His future? The audiences and their knowledge of the UK in the 1980s, 1990s, into the 21st century? The nature of the changes?
