British Film 2.0 Flashcards
(8 cards)
Introduction - This is England:
This is England (Meadows, 2006)
warp production film,
set in the north of England in the 80’s.
social realist film following protagonist, 12 year old Shaun who begins to navigate his life.
Margaret Thatcher was prime minister:
she declared the Falklands was to be a priority
closed mines up and down the country
her neoliberal agenda fell on the shoulders of the working class.
I will be applying a political ideological lens to the film, to understand the character of Shaun.
Opening paragraph - This is England:
applying a political ideological lens =. useful examining Shaun’s position in society.
camera fades to Shaun’s bedroom.
photo frame sits centre frame = a man in uniform = significant figure in Shaun’s life.
photo on top of a radio, diegetically plays Margret Thatcher speaking Fawklands war.
two elements = figure is fighting at the Fawklands war.
radios +. photograph on an old, varnished, chair = side table.
paint on the walls is chipped + dull, = whole colour scheme of the room.
Shaun = working class background = victim to Thatcher’s neoliberal agenda.
camera slowly zooms out revealing our protagonist Shaun = looking at the man in the photograph,
witness connection = significant figure in his life, possibly being his dad.
opening scene = Shaun’s equilibrium of being vulnerable, alone, and working class;
sets key themes in which his character is used to reveal + critique societal issues.
Second scene - This is England:
After getting into a fight at school, Shaun meets Woody, revealing the start of Shaun’s character arc, which is essentially a search for a new family unit, as his own family have been compromised by the intrusion of Thatchers war. Woody is a skinhead and introduces Shaun into a community which is similar to a family. However, Shaun is also introduced to Combo, the antagonist of the film. The first scene Combo and Shaun meet, Combo tells a racist story, close ups are used on Combo to accentuate his exaggerated facial expressions. However, cutaways are used to show everyone’s reaction to the story, which is predominately disgust. However, a long shot reveals Combo is aiming the story towards Milky, the only black person present, foreshadowing later events. Combo’s racist ideology and its impact on Shaun is central to the films narrative. An ideological analysis can reveals how the film critiques racism and the disparity that arises between those directly impacted by the governments negligence of the working class.
Third scene - This is England:
Shaun’s initial embrace of the gang and their violent racist views can be interpreted through the lens of nationalism and how it can be weaponised. Combo fits Shaun the St. George’s flag, which is used by the white nationalist movement. However, the film critiques this by showcasing the destructive consequences of such ideologies through Combo’s violent attack on Milky, during the attack close ups of Shaun are used to show his fear, and him begging Combo to stop, before being thrown out. It is after the attack that Shaun rejects their ideologies, this is revealed through the symbolism of Shaun throwing the St. George’s flag Combo gifted him into the sea. It is through an ideological framework that we are able to understand the films deeper meaning. As Shaun creates his own, new equilibrium becoming a binary opposite of Combo’s.
Introduction - Trainspotting:
Trainspotting (Boyle, 1996) is a channel 4 production of Irvine Welsh’s book. The film is set in Glasgow, following a group of heroin addicts who are marginalised by society. Boyle uses hyper realism to depict all stages of drug use, from injection to withdrawals. Andrew Macdonald expressed they “wanted to show why people took drugs.” During this time there was high rates of unemployment, once again due to Margaret Thatchers neoliberal agenda. However, heroin was cheap to buy, becoming an alternative to a depressing life inflicted by the government to many. Including our protagonist Renton, who we acknowledge is an unreliable narrator.
Opening paragraph - Trainspotting:
In the opening scene, applying an ideological analysis can reveal how the audience is positioned initially encouraging them to align with Renton’s anti-establishment ideology. Renton and Spud are running down princess street in Glasgow; the camera starts at ground level, revealing they have little to no morals, as the camera moves up it shows cd’s flying out of their pockets. Furthermore, Iggy Pops ‘Lust for Life’ is playing non-diegetically, the fast paced tempo reflects the rush of adrenaline that drugs fuel. It is within Rentons famous opening monologue which sets the stage for the films exploration of drug culture, youth rebellion, and the rejection of social constructs. Renton’s statement “why choose life when you can choose heroin” confirms his hedonistic views and iconoclastic mentality. This opening scene establishes Renton’s equilibrium as a heroin addict.
Second paragraph - Trainspotting:
Interestingly, Renton’s journey and the films portrayal of drug culture can be interpreted as a critique of society’s failure to provided opportunities and support for marginalised individuals. Also within the opening binary opposites are introduced during a football match. Renton’s team are wearing mismatched dirty uniform, which arguably represent the distorting effects of drugs. However, the opposition are all in clean, matching uniforms, representing a sober life. An ideological analysis can highlight the films exploration of themes of poverty, alienation, and the search of belonging.
Paragraph three - Trainspotting:
The film follows Renton’s journey as he experiences the consequences of his drug use, ultimately leading him to abandon his former life, and seek a new one in London. By Renton leaving the circular room with the bag of drug money, it symbolises him breaking the cycle, and choosing to have a fresh start. Furthermore, an stabilising shot of Renton crossing a bridge represents him crossing into a new sober life, and having a new equilibrium, as he rejects his old nihilistic attitude, stating in his monologue “I choose life.” An ideological analysis can explore how the narrative structure allows the audience to undergo a similar moral awakening and to question Renton’s initial radical stance
