This Is England

Harrowing, Powerful, Genius

Director: Shane Meadows

Release Date: 2006
Rating: 18
Running time: 101mins
Genre: Drama
Actors: Stephen Graham, Thomas Turgoose, Joe Gilgun, Vicky McClure

‘That’s what we need man, that’s what our nation’s been built on, proud men…proud fucking men,’ 

Shane Meadows takes on the highly compelling story of a young boy growing up in the early 80’s, who is enrolled into a skinhead subculture and shown just what it means to be English at that time. Meadows works with a highly likable and credible cast of under the radar actors who piece together this fascinating drama about life in the north of England during Margaret Thatcher’s reign as Prime Minister and the Falklands war. 

This ‘close to the knuckle’ story is able to show audiences the historical background of early 80’s England to highlight the events leading up to and influencing the films story. When 11 year old Shaun is having trouble at school with bullies he meets Woody, a likable northerner who, with the help of his friends, introduces Shaun to their boisterous and rebellious antics of being a skinhead turning his life around. That is until he’s taken under the wing of Combo (Stephen Graham) a white supremacist who wants to rid the country of anything and anyone who isn't

wholly English.

‘This Is England’ is one of the best British Dramas of this century that’s able to show the harsh reality and poverty of England at the time and shows audiences that maybe it isn't all that to be English. What’s especially good about this film is how Meadows was able to give a real insight into both the skinhead subculture and also the north of England at that time. Plus despite it being set in only a small part of the country it can be appreciated by a large population of people and shows a story that everyone should be able to relate to in one way or another and keep people fixated right up until its dramatic climax.

What’s more is, the films success was able to go onto produce two follow on drama series’ on channel 4 ‘This is England 86’ and ‘This is England 88’ where we are able to see what happens to all the characters 3 years on after the events of the film. We’re able to get a more in depth look into not Shaun’s life but develop other characters stories as well. What’s especially clever about this series is how it was able to highlights the constant changes that went on in the late 1980’s and difficulties faced by people in both their social and economical aspects. A truly fascinating story worth checking out. 

9/10