This Is England (2006)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Shane Meadows

Writer:

Shane Meadows (written by)

Release Date:

27 April 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Run with the crowd, stand alone, you decide.

Plot:

A story about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983. He comes across a few skinheads on his way home from school, after a fight. They become his new best friends even like family. Based on experiences of director Shane Meadows.

Plot Keywords:

Skinhead | Racism | Violence | Ex Convict | Stoned

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Thomas Turgoose	...	Shaun
Stephen Graham	...	Combo
Jo Hartley	...	Cynth
Andrew Shim	...	Milky
Vicky McClure	...	Lol
Joseph Gilgun	...	Woody (as Joe Gilgun)
Rosamund Hanson	...	Smell
Andrew Ellis	...	Gadget
Perry Benson	...	Meggy
George Newton	...	Banjo
Frank Harper	...	Lenny
Jack O'Connell	...	Pukey Nicholls
Kriss Dosanjh	...	Mr. Sandhu
Kieran Hardcastle	...	Kes
Chanel Cresswell	...	Kelly

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Australia:MA | Ireland:18 | USA:Unrated | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-15 | France:U (with warning) | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company:

Big Arty Productions

Trivia:

Although this film was rated '18' in the UK when released theatrically, the film was rated '15' in Westminster and Bristol theatrically.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The track "Since Yesterday" by Strawberry Switchblade can be heard on the radio although the song was not released until November 1984.

Quotes:

Woody: [Imitating Harvey] I'm Harvey and I'm here to give you jip.

Movie Connections:

References Les quatre cents coups (1959)

Soundtrack:

Do The Dog

Skins in Thatcherland

The skinhead culture fascinates many directors and it's understandable. It's one of the few remaining subcultures in the West, much because of the Nazi connections.

But the skins in this movie aren't political and no racists to start with. One of the gang members is even black. They live in a happy community in the early 80s, having fun and being together in a totally grey unfriendly working class environment. It's very hopeful and the 12-year-old finds himself accepted for the first time in his life. His longing for the dead father of the Falklands war is somewhat replaced.

But darkness arrives with the skin veteran who comes back from jail. And there are conflicts between the racist fraction and the others. But whatever this is, it's not black and white. The characters are much more complicated.

Much has been said about young Thomas Turgoose as the 12-year-old. He's very good but the great portrait is by Stephen Graham as the old/new gang leader. Absolutely brilliant work.