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 | Violence | Racism | Murder | 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 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company:

Big Arty Productions

Trivia:

At a Q&A period following this film's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Shane Meadows noted that the grim skinhead influenced upbringing of the 11-year-old protagonist was a true portrayal of his own childhood and many of the events depicted were drawn from his early life.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Combo was explaining the level of unemployment in the UK at the time (1983), he referred to a figure of 3½ million. Although unemployment figures in the early 1980s were staggering this figure was not reached until 1986.

Quotes:

Woody: Honestly mate, you look sterling.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'This Is England' (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pressure Drop

Best film of the Berlin Film Festival 2007

I just saw "This Is England" at the Berlin Film Festival where it was screened in the section "Generation 14P". This section is an extension of the former "Kinderfilmfest" for teenagers between 14 and 18 - dealing with more mature issues.

I had no clue about it, just that it would be about skinheads in England and that it takes place in the 80s. I wasn't expecting much, hoping for something like a British version of "American History X" - I got a lot more.

When I left the theater I was absolutely stunned! Cast and script were outstanding. I loved the rough editing and grainy camera style that made the movie look a real 80s flick! And last but not least: the soundtrack is a blast! And coming from a director who used to be part of the real scene, it might be the most authentic picture about skinheads ever made.

Although it didn't get as much attention as the Hollywood films that had their premiere at the Berlinale Palast, it's a lot stronger than almost all the films in competition.

I hope it will make its way the movies and not end up as a direct-to-video-flick... 10/10