Social Realism

1. Social Realism By Chloe Mack; 2O6B

2. What is Social Realism? Social Realism, in British films peaked during the 1960’s these films are often low budget British films. Social Realism has been used to show us to ourselves, it has produced films which us the audience will be able to relate too. The genre forced real life British experience into screens. The structure of this genre can be overwhelming it is a flash of reality, there are many films for example; Fish Tank directed by Andrea Arnold, this is about a rebellious teenager who resents her family. This is England, skin heads are taking over the youth’s of summer 1983. London to Brighton A 2009 film bringing out the elements of sex trafficking. • http://www.bbc.co.uk/britishfilm/summer/social_realism.shtml

3. Kes is a 1969 social realism, drama, directed by Ken Loach. Kes is a 15 year old working class child, who is bullied and abused. The film portrays life in a mining area in Yorkshire. Train spotting is a 1996 UK release, directed by Danny Boyle. Mark Renton is trying to give up his heroin habit, and we are shown how it has affected his relationship with friends and family. Old Social Realism Films 1969 - 1996 SocialRealism Time Line New Social Realism films 2006 - 2009 Fish Tank was released in September 2009 in the UK, Directed by Andrea Arnold. Mia is a 15 year old who's life changes the second her mother brings home a new boyfriend. London to Brighton is a UK Film released in December 2006 directed Paul Andrew Williams. Two Girls are running from London and travelling to Brighton in the attempt to escape from their mistakes. http://www.imdb.com/

4. 1959 1972 1967 Sapphire, directed by Basil Dearden Poor Cow, directed by Ken Loach My Childhood, directed by Bill Douglas 1992 1997 2000 Last Resort, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski Raining Stones, Directed by Ken Loach Nil By Mouth, directed by Gary Oldman

5. Setting Low budget settings are always represented in social realism films, it is usually estates or run down housing which are used to represent the families life style, they use actual location instead of a built up studio. In London to Brighton they used run down public toilets, this is something we expect to come across in lower class parts of London. Social realism films are also usually shot in different regions but there stereotypically, small neighbourhoods, in rundown urban areas. They also use the same scenes continuously this creates an affect that these people/person are suffering because of there social class. Typical Social realism scenes are UK settings such as London, Essex and Scotland etc. Old deserted buildings are used such as; offices and factories, this create more affective scenes, representing there social status in different ways.

6. Characters In social realism films the characters are presented in similar ways, they are usually characters of the working class category, this builds the storyline around the characters life style and what they have experienced. Stereotypical some social realism characters are represented as being rebellious and out of control e.g. Kidult hood, Adulthood, Football Factory. These characters are portrayed through their dress sense and personality. In London to Brighton the characters are suffering because of low income, there clothing represents this, the characters wear the same clothes throughout the whole of the film, this may be purposely done to create the image of minimal money, and represent a low budget films. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1037898

7. Camera Work In Social Realism films, like many other films they use multiple angles and camera shots to create the scenes effectively. In Social Realism films they often use long shots, this is so the audience get a taste of what sort of lives the characters live, e.g. The first picture connotes a grim run down area, its muddy, and the fencing suggests that this is a rough area. Social Realism films tend to use digital , and hand held cameras to create the low budget effect, they achieved a good quality film, with a cheap production. Medium shots are also popular, they are usually used to show off a character, but it tells us a bit more about them. Extreme close up are also regularly to connote reaction shots. Panning and tracking shots are also used to follow the character e.g. When the character begins to run etc. Extreme close up/close up shots are used a lot in Kidult hood, to represent how the characters are feeling, it also connote the emotional impact the situation has had upon the character at this moment in time.

8. Visual Representation The visual comparison between the two films is outstanding. Kes was released in 1969 and Fish Tank was released in 2009, we are able to notify the difference between the two films just by looking at the pictures. Fish Tank had a better advantage then Kes, they had better technology which created a better image. the colours signify that Fish tank is higher social class then Kes, which is false. The case could be argued that Kes is low social status and they are signifying the dullness of his life e.g. The faded colours, but Fish Tank is also focused around a family surviving on a low income. The technology has advanced over the years, emphasizing the colours and bringing a fullness to each scene. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

9. Characters representation This is England. The characters stern status connotes that they are rough, its also their key finishing touch, completing their skin head complexion. Shaun, the young boy in front’s look is new and fresh which connotes he is a new member of the crew , his red braces match his blue and red patterned shirt, which signifies a playful but rebellious image is completed with a shaven head and a faded kiss mark imprinted on his cheek, stereotypically suggesting he is a ladies man. The gormless look the 3 background character express highlights their tough image, the shaven head fits in with there strong emotionless views. There high buttoned shirts and jackets represents personality along with the skin head look, its smart but completed with a biker jacket and jeans e.g. Tie die. This connotes a sense of aggression. The fourth character in the background has a smug smile on his face, this signifies that he is the least serious out of the bunch, possibly a push over. http://uk.ask.com/

10. Social Realism Examples: http://www.film4.com/search?q=social+realism#

11. This Is England This is England is a 2006 April release, directed by Shane Meadows, set in 1983. The film has all the Social Realism elements, hitting all the stereotypes and perfecting the scenes. The main character Shaun is a timid but troubled adolescent living in a rundown surrounding, he lives with his singled mother, struggling to fund for his needs, his second hand goods represents there low social status. He turns into a troublesome boy after getting himself involved in a group of ‘skin heads’. The local flats within the area, are battered, dirty and empty, the natural colours signify simplicity and lack of money, the empty cupboards and foods they live off suggests their status is the same as Shaun’s. Throughout the adolescents focus there time on partying and getting drunk, this signifies the sort of lives they have, its although they are trying to block it out by drinking. http://google.co.uk/

12. Kes Kes was released in June 1969, and directed by Ken Loach. The Social Realism release connotes all the elements of a young working class boy, who is bullied beaten and lonely, but he doesn’t let it beat him. The main character Billy is also a child suffering from low income, his complexion connotes this, the dullness of his clothes and noticeable individual style causes his social status to stand out; this is often used in social realism films to ensure we are aware of how different the characters social classes are e.g. Working class, middle class. The green fields are stereotypically used to present a sense of loneliness, Billy’s life is empty along with the fields; the fields are a comparison to his life, he now has more in the fields then he does at home, a friend, a pet falcon. This is Billie's place of freedom for him and his falcon. Falcons are considered the bird of prey, closely related to the Hawk, a hunting animal, unlikely to become a pet, but in Billie's case, its his only friend.