Tuesday, 5 October 2010

Social Realism

The most "typically British" of all film genres.

  • Social realism shows us to ourselves and gives a taste of what real British film culture is like.
  • Realism carried high brow connotations of education and seriousness.
  • In 1950's the documentary movement held sway and in 1960's British new wave took over.
  • New wave films tended to address issues around masculinity that would become common in British realism.
  • Descendants of the realistic flowering at BBC in the 1960's, Ken Loach and Mike Leigh assessed the impact of social realism.



Social Realism Films
Social realism films over the ages includes:

  • Up the Junction

  • KES

  • The Full Monty

  • This is England

  • Kidulthood/Adulthood


    Techniques of Social Realism

    • Use of authentic locations

    • Actors with regional accents

    • No Hollywood stars

    • Lack of 'big' names- pool of actors well known for appearances in T.V dramas.

    • Narratives deal with social issues such as; unemployment, divorce, family breakdown etc.

    • Usually twist of British humour

    • Gritty

    • Naturalistic filming techniques- observational style

    • Spontaneous naturalistic action (Loach)

    • Non professional actors

    • Lead characters are 'ordinary' working class.

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