Socialism through out the ages

San Dhinsa

A break down of the films we will be looking at today

1950s • Look back in anger

1960s • Poor cow

1970s • Bronco Bull frog

1980s • My beautiful Laundrette

1990s• Nil by mouth

2000s • This is England

2010s • Ill manors

Look back in Anger

The first thing I noticed when watching this scene was the fact the music was very upbeat, which differs to BSR films today which are depicted much more lifeless and dull.However,the storyline was still about mundane situations everyday people encountered. Themes such as abuse, boring jobs and pregnancy were presented to depict to the audience how the film was about a struggle rather than all happy rainbows.

I noticed how the archetypes were still similar to what we would have today, but just not as structured. Jimmy porter was the weak but aggressive man which is an archetype we still have today in BSR films, but the characters were still well-dressed which is unusual because the clothes should be more accessible than normal or high priced which these actors were wearing.

The typography was rather plain and old-fashioned as this film was edited during the 50s.Today,typography would be used to reflect the film, for example, if the film was set in the streets of London, an urban style of typography would be portrayed.

Poor cow

• Poor cow represented a theme of childhood through out this particular scene ,this is a common issue portrayed in British social realism films,even today.However,there were no actual issues.Childhood was presented in a positive way because the parents were loving of their child,today,childhood would be explored in negative ways such a single parenthood and neglect. In this particular gif (from 0.41 to 0.46) the music in the background is a popular track from the 60s which has positive connotations of sun-rise,determining the audience view that these parents spend time with their child everyday, and that this positivity is their daily grind.

• The lighting was warm and there was a lack of any blue overcolour.• Although this film used working class people, the situations were not as harsh as you would view

today,these films were much more muted and subtle when presenting the daily grind.• The camerawork consisted with a few zooms,which would seem amateur if used today,which

highlights how in the 60's,they would dramatize scenes excessively rather than keep it realistic.

Bronco Bull Frog

• Technology had stepped up by the 70's because there were more shots in different locations in Bronco bullfrog compared to British social realism films in previous decades.There was however,alot of theme music which gave the film more an upbeat feel than it should.The theme focused on in this film was sport,which is not normally addressed in films of this genre,but it opened the door for more personal identity for males specifically.The sport theme was accompied with the theme of corruption of the youth.From the gif below (1.55 to 2 minutes) we denote two teenagers breaking into a Phillips branded unit and stealing,thusconnoting that these two characters are involved with petty crime,which is only the first step towards the corruption they soon face because they start with something small and would go onto bigger crimes.

• This also connotes the archetype of the lost boy as he is

still finding his path.

My Beautiful Laundrette

• 'My Beautiful Laundrette' introduced more explicit content for this type of genre.There was a gay kiss between two interracial men which exhibited more controversial topics.There was also no music and no artificial lighting here.I personally think that by the 80's, British social realism films were more structured because they were becoming more dull and brutal than before which is how they would be described today.The location was very realistic as it was filmed inside your everyday laundry store.In my opinion this represents entertainment combined with surveillance because viewers could find the storyline interesting but also learn more about sexuality.

Nil by mouth

• Nil by mouth has very brutal domestic violence which opens up the sensitivity range for this genre of film. In the 90's British social realism films have increasingly become more aggressive and realistic and were starting to dwell on storylines that would hit hard at home.The actors were lower-class with a heavy cockney accent which further highlights how these actors were from the area rather than a payed Hollywood actor without an authentic accent.

This scene was particularly powerful because you could hear the diagetic sounds of the downtrodden woman being beaten. This determines our view that women are seen as weak in a much more distinctive abusive male gaze.

The flat has no curtains, highlighting how their is no shelter and cover for this poor

Innocent women. I think the setting and storyline mirrored each other perfectly

Because the flat is dingy with a lack of life, which is

Reflecting the mind of the downtrodden woman who seems

To be trapped in this mundane cycle, which is what

BSR films centre around.

This is England

• We are first introduced to this scene in a casual manner. The characters are resting ,conversing in an innocent topic of family. There is only dialogue and no music to set the scene as neutral. The characters in this scene are predominantly white with the exception of one black/mixed race male. From 1.09 we suddenly hear some quiet music which has a rather sad tone which mirrors the conversation of parents. Close ups have been used to create a contrast between the white characters and the one black boy.This mixed in with other shots that show the distance between the characters and where are they sitting which hints at the theme of this particular scene...discrimination. Violence has been used to paint this picture.BSR films are now beginning to use relatable storylines to ensure the audience find personal identity and to also raise social issues.

Ill Manors

• From 2010 onwards, BSR films are becoming increasingly creative. This particular film has actually been written and directed by Ben Drew (otherwise known as Plan B) who uses his music to illustrate the situations further. In this Scene, Kirby is released from prison which of course affects Chris.BSR films usually do not use flashbacks, but because this film is more of a modern approach, music is used along with a flashback to a younger Kirby and Chris to hint at the history they have together. The lighting used through this scene and throughout the movie altogether is natural. To represent the 70s in the flashback, the mise-en-scene has changed in the basment.The characters are now wearing old fashioned clothes. There is no dialogue and only the sound of Plan B’s song Drug dealer which carries the message along and keeps the audience interested. To suggest time moving forward, the actor for Chris changes as he supposedly growing older and the camera pans over.The themes and situations explored here were Racism/prejudice (Trevor to Chris) , Drug abuse (Janet) and Corruption of youth (Chris’s childhood) as well bad parenting as Chris is left with Kirby.

In what ways has British Social Realism evolved over the last sixty

years?

• In the last sixty years, alot has changed in the genre of British Social Realism. Situations and themes have become much more brutal and realistic to represent the daily grind of British citizens through out the ages. Camera work has also become more experimental through out the ages. To highlight this , if we look back at the BSR films of the 60s , the post production was rather standard, compared to Ill Manors the editing is more graphic and interesting to pull the audience further into the storyline. Music has also changed dramatically in the last 60 years. The music use to be rather upbeat and there was a lack of anything harsh or mundane, as time moved on, BSR films were representing the dull life of Britons as music either began to disintegrate to further show the power of dialogue or the music mirrored the themes well. Locations were beginning to pan out more, old BSR films were filmed in one or two locations and as time moved on, there were more locations and camera work introduced. In my opinion, BSR films have gotten more amazing over time because they became more realistic and were beginning to work on personal identity through relatable situations, surveillance as we could learn about different lifestyles in Britain (for example The Selfish Giant which is set up North compared to Kidulthood which is set in London).There was also more entertainment as music and new editing techniques were introduced. There was also some Diversion and Escapism being used more now compared to sixty years ago because we were introduced to different social classes and clashes, for example in Look back in anger the actors were seen to be from a lower-class yet dressed well , in Nil by mouth , poverty was more harshly presented through a lack of curtains and clothing which only consisted of a tank top and boxers for Ray Winston.