‘Love + Hate’Directed By: Dominic Savage

2005

Social RealismDr. Samantha Lay

•Initially at least, British social realistic texts were associated with preference for content over style. This led to the label “Kitchen sink” a derogatory term used to describe their perceived drab representations of working class characters and settings.

•Social realist texts are often described as “gritty”, a term which can be used to describe the surface realism of the landscapes in which the characters live, the way these characters and landscapes are filmed and character attitudes and behaviours. Social realist texts are often associated with an observational style of filming which tend to produce a distance between the text and spectator.

Story Line• The story line of the film reflects the stereotypical ways in which people from different cultures

clash. • The way in which Adam is shown as being almost scared of the way he will react to Naseema when

she first starts to work at the decorating shop shows how hard it was for people of non white origin to be accepted in the white community.

• Adam is brought up in an all white home and his brother and mother are very racist, for example; Adams brother throws a brick through a “Paki’s” shop window and Adams mother congratulates him when he tells her. The only thing she is bothered about Is the fact he was driving the company car when he did it.

• The controversial bond that Adam and Naseema develop between each other could be classed as un stereotypical in everyday society, as you wouldn’t stereotypically see a Muslim female in a relationship with a white male. This shows that even though the story line has elements of social realism it also has parts which are unrealistic.

• As the story unfolds we are shown the hard ship the two lovers go through to be together. This brings the story back into a socially realistic form because everything isn't simple and perfect.

Characters English characters:• Adam: English boy who falls in love with Naseema, he is a racist character but is conflicted by the racism in his

family, Adam is surly, quiet, and to begin with it's clear he hates "Pakis”• Sean: Adams brother Sean is very influential over Adam and is the main racist pressure in his life. • Derek and Steve: Adam’s English friends • Adam’s Mother: English woman who is seen as very racist • Michelle: Chavy English girl who works with Naseema and Adam, she falls in love with Naseema’s brother Yousif • Decorating shop owner: decent, fair minded man who disagrees with Adam’s racism

Asian family:• Naseema: Muslim girl who falls in love with Adam even though she comes from a disapproving Asian family • Yousif: Muslim boy begins a relationship with Michelle after picking her up, however he is overprotective of

Naseema, he doesn’t let her wear revealing clothes or have friendships with English boys, this is hypocritical behaviour

• Naseema’s Father: Muslim parent who drives a taxi gets beaten up by Adam’s friends due to his race• Naseema’s Mother & Sister: Naseema has a very close relationship to her sister, her sister is always there for her

and sticks up for her when Yousif is arguing with her. Naseema’s mother is a very stereotypical Muslim mother.

Setting

• The setting throughout the film is set in Blackburn and shows the area to be rough and a predominantly racist city.

• The jobs displayed in the film are all working class professions such as: taxi driver, sales assistant, factory workers.

• The housing between races show to be different. Naseema’s family live in a smaller house with very small cramped/cluttered rooms the two sisters share a bedroom. Whereas Adams family seem to live in a much better environment with well decorated, spacious rooms.

• The setting for where the Asian boy in the car takes Michelle is a very dark empty car park this is displaying a not very nice or clean area.

Would the ending really happen?• We believe that the ending is very unrealistic. As we think that their age is a major factor in why

they actually wouldn’t run away.• The ending scenes are also mixed with the Snow Patrol song ‘Run’ which makes it very cliché and

over dramatises it. • We don’t feel had we been in the same position we would have handled things the same way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PvWd6hOcoA&feature=relmfu (3.48)

Quiz

1. Who did we say talked about social realism?2. What label was drab representations of working class given?

3. Where is the film predominantly set?

4. What are some of the working class jobs that are featured in the films?

5. What is Adams mums view on Muslims?