This Is England (2006/Genius/IFC)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Film: B-

 

 

The cycle of dramas about the pitfalls of hate groups has never achieved a classic that hit the nail on the head about how wrong intolerance is.  Writer/director Shane Meadows tries to do a variant on the subject without succumbing to any formulas or predictability in his 206 film This Is England.  The films, as good as they have been at times, never finds the answers and just showing the hate is not sufficient, unfortunately.

 

In this case, a pre-teen child whose father died in the Falkland War in the early 1980s finds himself with a Right-wing Punk-styled group who his mother probably should not allow him to be with.  They help get rid of bullies, but recruitment is the long term goal and he tries a character study of sorts of the situation and maybe of England as the title suggests.

 

Though not always successful, it is an interesting enough film that its accolades make sense, but in order to take the different approach he takes, limits himself from also making the necessary big statement(s) on the matter.  Acting is very convincing all around and Meadows can act.  That is enough to make it worth a good look.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is somewhat gritty, as shot by Danny Cohen and is professional, consistent, well-edited and has many good composition choices.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not bad, especially in the interesting choice of music.  The use of Ska & Reggae makes an interesting counterpoint to repression and racism throughout.  Extras include the trailer, two text essays, deleted scenes, a making of featurette and an on camera interview with Meadows.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo