Initial Specific research into shared features.

Social realism

Social realism is a genre which represents real lives and real social and political situations in our nation. The genre is recognisable through such work as ken loach. His most famous film ‘Kes’ was a success through the country and has bought attention to the genre for years after. His films tell the story of the working class and their struggles for survival. The narratives of genre usually entail such subjects as drugs, alcohol, debt and violence and are usually told following one character stuck in the situations which make it impossible for them to better themselves. The genre can also be very closely associated with the British New wave of the late 50s, this kitchen sink realism reinforces the mentality of the youth of the era, to better themselves and also abandon the ideology of their elders and the years before. In recent years the social realist movement has been given some new faces such as Shane Meadows, who has won over the film world with his success with His work.



‘Social realism developed as a reaction against idealism and the exaggerated ego encouraged by romanticism.’

‘They focus on ugly realities of contemporary life and sympathized with the working -class people, particularly the poor.’





Comparison of 3 social realist pieces

‘Kes’ (1969) Directed by: Ken Loach – Kes is the story of a young working-class Yorkshire boy who is bullied at school and ignored and abused at home. He then finds, tames and trains a kestrel falcon, bringing the joy and motivation he needed for so long. With the issues of his education and future at stake throughout the film is a depiction of the limitation set for the youth of the working class before the tragic end with the death of Billy’s beloved Kes.

‘This is England’ (2006) Directed by: Shane Meadows – This is England takes us deep into the skin head culture of the 1980s , initially on a more shallow level but soon plunging into the National front movement with the introduction of the character Combo who turns The young Shaun’s world upside down. At the beginning Shaun is an outcast at his new school being bullied, generally for his appearance which is due to his working class background. He is then plucked up out of the street into a group of skinhead by the leader Woody. This uplifting change to his life is then shattered with his involvement with Combo finishing with a dramatic and ambiguous ending.

‘Sweet sixteen’ (2002) Directed by:Ken Loach– Liam is a Scottish working class teenager determined on living a normal family life once his mother is out of prison. She is prosecuted for a crime that her extremely violent and manipulative boyfriend has committed. With this in mind Liam’s goal is to save her from her boyfriend Stan and his grandfather. With no hope for a job and no education Liam’s only hope is the ever dangerous drug underground. He starts out small selling ‘gear’ which he has stolen from Stan’s stash , only to fall deeper and deeper into the scene finding himself emerged into the largest gang of his hometown Greenock. His efforts to raise cash are wasted when his mother turns back to Stan filling Liam with rage and in effect his decision to kill Stan.



All three films are similar in content, they all feature young boys lost deep in the goings on of the lower-class. They are all set and actually filmed on location and mostly contain extras which are not trained actors for authenticity. The films directed by Loach are particularly similar in the way in which they are produced due to his auteur qualities he brings to his films, such as improvisation from cast and candid camera work. Although both Meadows and loach have their own personal take on the genre their shooting methods are similar in the way of long drawn out shots, documenting the lives of the characters in an observatory manner and also fast and sharp editing when there is a large amount of violence or action; This contrast gives the content more impact and affect to the audience. The audience will generally be the same demographic, as they are more likely to be interested in film and more persistent with the challenging content. The audience I assume to be older as the films I have listed are mostly a pastiche of eras before, the difficult content and social issues involved are also something which will be unacceptable for a younger audience. I would think that the audience would more than likely be in the region of C1-C2 based on the films distance from mainstream cinema.

Video; Film openings initial research

I have chosen to produce a 2 minute opening of a genre film which will include a title sequence.

I have looked into some different areas and genres of films which have particular styles and characteristics as well as the use of film openings in general.

firstly films in general...
- Films use generic conventions to set up a viewers expectations for the film from the very begining of a film , if an audience can identify particular conventions they are able to realise the genre and will find pleasure when their expectations are fore filled.

Dog Soldiers is a very good example of how genre can create expectations for the audience in the start of the film...
- All the generic conventions of a typical horror and more specifically werewolf horror are included in the opening of the film. There is a defenceless couple, shot at night time/ moonlight, a full moon, wolf howls and a silver steak. This immediately sets up an audience expectation of werewolves and their first expectation is proven right when the couple are killed. A binary opposition is created when cooper is told to kill the dog and wont so the other character does, we as an audience then empathise with cooper this making him our propian hero.
- The build of the character roles enables the audience to create the expectation of restored equilibrium by the propian hero, this disruption that must be restored is already demonstrated in the initial few scenes of the film, when there is the introduction of the werewolf and the couple is killed. The reinforcement of binary opposites is shown through the character that kills the dog when our Propian hero will not, making the other character his opposite and the villain. This role gives the expectation that ‘the villain’ will add to the disruption of the narrative. But the hero will over come and restore the narrative.

Hollywood product...

- Hollywood genres are very easily identified initially through particularly through actors/ actresses, trailers and soundtracks. This early establishment enables audiences to ensure that they will enjoy the film if they are preferential to the genre. Hollywood product has particular film grammar which creates an idea of fiction story telling in the film, this is shown through rules of filming such as continuity editing, the 180 degree rule and the actors / actresses lack of interaction with the audience. In Hollywood product there are narrative conventions such as preliminary equilibrium, the disruption of this and then finally the restoration of this by the hero character role. The financiers of these films are large studios such as universal and Warner, meaning they need to be morally and politically correct with no alternative content for their target audiences to be green lighted.


Social realist films...

- There are still many generic conventions of social realist film; however the content is some what alternative in comparison to more mainstream product. A social realist film is usually very dialogue heavy, creating a more dramatic and serious feel. The soundtrack, if used, is recognisable and relevant to the content and era of the film. For instance in the film ‘This is England’ used a ska and reggae orientated soundtrack associated with the skin head culture of the period, this relevance reinforces the realism. These films use on location shooting and at most times natural lighting with bland colour design , just as life is not saturated and bright all the time.