Friday, 28 September 2012

Social Realism In British Film

Social Realism in film began in the 1930s, they started by showing documentary films, this was first established by the director John Grierson who created films such as 'Drifters' and Industrial Britain. He decided in these films to show and give everyone an insight into the various careers and also the people behind those jobs. 

Social realism became most successful during the 1960s, this was when a new style of film was made known as, 'British New Wave' and to this day has influenced British film ever since. British New Wave is style of film which displays real life stories and subjects, they tend to be about how harsh the reality of working class Britain is. The stories they tell tend to be about peoples everyday struggle, trying to endure life in working class societies. The setting for social realist films is usually in run down urban areas.


The idea of social realist film began to develop in to something known as the 'kitchen sink' dramas, they were often referred to as 'angry young men' films. This was mainly due to to the focus of the films being on the social and economic problems a young male would endure in a working class societies. They established a male protagonist who attempted to escape society through the use of alcohol, sex, money and drugs. At this time there were many directors coming though who were creating social realist film, a few of these being Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson who were directors of the films 'This Sporting Life' and 'if....'.

Tony Richardson was a director most known or his work during the 1960s, he was a part of the 'free cinema', this was the practice of putting ordinary people with problems on to the big screen. This made the films he made seem more realistic as the featured actors weren't famous, they were merely just normal people. He is and example of a director that has adapted his films from types of literature and theatre which were full of social realism. One of his most famous films being 'A Taste of Honey' which was originally a play.

The early social realist films have largely influenced the film industry to this very day, and the films being made are still based upon the constant struggle in working class societies. The films, Ratcatcher, Billy Elliot and This is England are all modern day examples of the traditional social realist film, based around the working class communities attempt to survive at the bottom of the social hierarchy. 

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