Image courtesy of First Take (IFC)

 

In keeping with the theme of tumultuous, misguided youth in Tewntyfour Seven and A Room for Romeo Brass, and the thematic violence of Dead Man’s Shoes, writer/ director Shane Meadows’ latest coming-of-age dramedy manages to be a discerning and educational look at a troubled boy and his run in with a violent crowd.  In his latest film, This is England, Meadows shares his own personal tale of growing up in early 1980s England where innocence and the sense of belonging were frequently offset by the ramifications of the Falklands War and the rise of white nationalism.   

 

Not to be confused with Humphrey Jennings’ 1941 war documentary of the same name, England is the latest Meadows’ flick to fall under the style of kitchen sink realism that emerged in Britain during the ‘50s and ‘60s.  With its ugly domestic setting, political overtones, grim outlook on life, and use of local unknown actors instead of big name celebrities, Meadows effectively creates a bleak, yet realistic representation of his life as it actually was…not just a version of how he wished his childhood could have been.   

 

The film takes place in a small coastal town of Northern England during July of 1983 where we meet eleven year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose), a popular target for school bullies, whose pent-up rage and frustration lead him to befriend a group of local skinheads led by the affable Woody (Joseph Gilgun).  Among the skinheads, Shaun finds the companionship and brotherhood for which he has been searching following the recent death of his father, who died fighting in the Falkland War. 

 

At first, everything is fun and games for Shaun and his shorn crew of misfits, but their days of vandalism and tagging are short-lived.  When National Front member Combo (Stephen Graham) returns from a recent jail stint, he quickly reasserts leadership of the group, taking Shaun under his wing as his protégé.  Eventually, Combo’s racism splits the group in two, and leads everyone down a dark path of unspeakable violence from which there is no return. 

 

Even though Combo’s racism makes the film’s violent climax somewhat predictable, This is England still comes across as an enjoyable, humorous, coming-of-age story.  Meadows’ careful attention to details in the visual design of the characters and their bleak setting helps to recapture an early 80’s vibe that makes you feel as if you’ve taken a step back in time…back to a time where kids spent their summers hanging out with friends instead of playing video games all day long. 

 

Meadows also addresses the connotation of skinheads and racial violence by empathizing with a lonely, frustrated boy like Shaun who inadvertently falls in with the “wrong” crowd.  The group Shaun first encounters reflects the original ‘60s skinheads that hung out in reggae clubs and listened to Ska music.  However, upon Combo’s return, the once amiable group of vandals then starts to resemble the second wave ruffian skinheads from the ‘80s, preyed upon by the National Front to commit hate crimes in Doc Martins.  

 

Ironically, the film highlights how a large faction of the subculture became hijacked by white power groups such as the National Front in spite of the fact the skinhead subculture was partly based on elements of black culture.  Through stock footage, Meadows uses the backdrop of the Falkland War to echo the racism of the National Front as well as Shaun’s feelings of isolation and loss.   Alas, the anti-violence message of intolerance in Meadows’ vision of 1983 is as relevant today as it was back then. 

 

© Kelly Bartley 2007

 

 

Running Time:

1 hour 42 minutes

Release Date: 

April 27, 2007 (UK), July 27, 2007 (NY/LA), August 31, 2007 (limited U.S.)

MPAA Rating: 

Not Rated

BBFC Certificate: 

18 (racist language, violence)

Distributor: 

First Take (IFC)