Sunday, August 5, 2007

This is England

There was a lot of talk around NYC about this film by Shane Meadows. One rainy Sunday proved to be the perfect day to take it in. I was not, however, ready for what I was in store for. This is England is a story of a young boy, Sean, growing up in England in 1983. A bit of an outcast in school and in his town, Sean befriends a group of skin heads that he happens to randomly come across one afternoon. Beneath their tough extierer apperances lies hearts of gold and a loving family most "normal" people could only dream of. They live for each other and the main focus for them is to enjoy life . The return of an old friend is the shattering force to this blissful harmony. Now is when the intensity and the true character of the film begins to evolve. Combo-(stephen Gram) comes back from prison and straight into Sean's new life. Combo is the strong idealist apposed to authority, espcially towards the current war being fought at the time. Combo divides Sean's new family in half, recruiting the impressionable youth into a deranged anti-immigrant mentality. Taking the issue into their own hands empowering with brute force Sean and his new admiration, Combo, begin to terrorise the community.

That was a very brief summary of the plot. I would not like to indulge to much so that i can leave you with something to view on your own. This film was one of the most powerful films i have seen in quite some time. It dealt with the power of influence and the delusional. The sound track was powerful and added a window to the character of the era in which the film was taking place. There were moments I had my head in my hands, un-sure if i could continue to watch. Not out of disappointment, but out of the reality that our peers have such a dramatic affect on us, that we need to remember that we have a choice, unfortunately we make the choice to stand up to late. I highly suggest you see this film and I believe you will agree with me afterwards.
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