UK: 18
Australia: 15
Ireland: 18
USA: Unrated
Sweden: 11
Finland:15
France: U
Germany: 12
Netherlands: 16
Notice the diversity of the certificates, especially the U from France. The ratings are mainly highest in the UK and Ireland, which is likely to be due to the setting and themes of the film, as the pessimistic, controversial views of the film are likely to have a stronger effect on English people, who can relate far better to the film.
Given the amounts of swearing, violence and controversial material, including racism and anarchism, I would have expected the film to receive a 15 rating on average, which proves true (the mean average of these ratings is exactly 15), although for the reasons stated above, It seems right to raise the certifiate in the country on which the film focuses on in a negative light
The U given from France seems wrong, however, as even though the film is not about that country, the use of swearing and violence alone normally push a film into the higher ratings, and this film has a lot of both. It is always possible that IMDB got the rating wrong, but when searching for the French rating online I found no results. Also note the “Unrated” USA rating- that the film was not rated tells me that the film is not at all popular, and was either not released in the US at all, or was barely sold there. As a British film that wasn't even shown in a majority of British cinemas, this is not surprising.
There are locations in the UK that overturned the certifications, as they thought that the film should reach the target audience of teenagers.
Locations
Set and filmed in Britain, the film never reveals exactly where it was set, although it was mainly filmed in Grimsby and Nottingham, suggesting that the film was set around those areas, in the center of Britain.
Locations
Set and filmed in Britain, the film never reveals exactly where it was set, although it was mainly filmed in Grimsby and Nottingham, suggesting that the film was set around those areas, in the center of Britain.
Company Credits
The production companies for the film are as follows:
Big Arty Productions
EM Media
Film4
Optimum Releasing
Screen Yorkshire
UK Film Council
Warp Films
Big Arty Productions
EM Media
Film4
Optimum Releasing
Screen Yorkshire
UK Film Council
Warp Films
Warp Films is a part of Warp Records. Based in Sheffield, it has 3 full-time staff, including Shane Meadows.
They state: "Warp Films is an independent film production company which aims to mirror the ethos of its partner music label Warp Records. By keeping the creative process at the core of our approach to filmmaking, Warp Films aims to create fresh and innovative feature length and short films to be viewed by a wide audience. Our current priorities are nurturing and developing existing talent, as well as discovering new exciting filmmakers." (Taken from Wikipedia)
They state: "Warp Films is an independent film production company which aims to mirror the ethos of its partner music label Warp Records. By keeping the creative process at the core of our approach to filmmaking, Warp Films aims to create fresh and innovative feature length and short films to be viewed by a wide audience. Our current priorities are nurturing and developing existing talent, as well as discovering new exciting filmmakers." (Taken from Wikipedia)
The UK Film Council (UKFC), set up in 2000 was created by the Labour Government to promote the film industry in the UK in order to "stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the nations and regions of the UK", as they put it. It is funded through sources including The National Lottery.
They aim to find ways to encourage investment in British films, such as tax relief. They currently spend £16,000,000 on the British Films Institute to help achieve their goals, as well as spending money to aid other projects or companies, such as the New Cinema Fund,which supports creativity, innovation, new talent and cutting-edge filmmaking.
(Data taken from their website)
Film4 Productions is a part of Channel 4, a British broadcasting company. They have backed a large number of British films, and are "dedicated to the production of smart, distinctive and contemporary feature films."
In the UK, the film was distributed on DVD by Optimum Releasing, a British company that works to release relatively unheard of films in the UK, and are most famous for their contract with Studio Ghibli.
In the US, the film was distributed by IFC Films, a company which mainly releases independant films and documentaries.
Reviews
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article1705669.ece
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/04/23/this_is_england_2007_review.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/04/23/this_is_england_2007_review.shtml
The film has recieved very mixed reviews from British reviewers, with 3, 4 and 5 star ratings from them. However, none of the reviews offer information into why it recieved such a low rating, and so I can only assume that the film has very different effects on different people. The facts in the reviews were very similar in each, however. Turgoose's acting was praised highly in each one, and the power of the film was also talked about a lot. Notice that the images chosen in these reviews were all of Turgoose getting his hair shaved off.
These three American reviews are very like the three British ones in the way that they all have very mixed ratings, from 3/10 to 4.5/5, and again, Turgoose's acting is praised. Searching for any differences between UK and US reviews, I noticed one thing - the image used in the US review was of Turgoose holding a slingshot. This image suggests violence, and from this, I searched in the reviews for any hints that the US reviews focused more on the violence than the rest of the film. This search was moderatly successful, and allowed me to notice that while the UK reviews focused more on the first half of the film (if divided in to two parts; before and after Combo) whereas the US reviews focused more on the second half. Although all this information is too vague to make a conclusion, I can comment that it seems that the UK reviewers were more interested in the social issues and conflicts at that time, whereas the US reviewers were more interested in the more violent, contraversial parts. I assume this is because of the film being about England, and therefore UK reviewers can relate more to the issues of the time.
User Comments
10/10 - Author: vauxhall19 (UK) - "This really is the most important British film for years, dealing skilfully with tensions around nation, belonging and masculinity. It feels entirely convincing and deftly moves between comedy, pathos and menacing violence. The occasional clichés can be forgiven (guess what? The flag wavers are all sinister psychos!) because this film is clearly the work of someone who lived this time and place. A lesser director would have lapsed into stereotyping the gang as knuckle-dragging nasties but Meadows' portrayal is hallmarked by humanity and sympathy. The recurring Falklands War footage seeks to remind us (at least those of us who lived through this period) of the slightly crazed jingoism that swept Britain at that time. This film's stature will only grow over time."10/10 - Author: allowallo_135 (UK) - "I thought this film was brilliant, it shows the gritty,horrible racism and what it was like to live in england that time. Some bits could have been improved but overall i thought it was a very good film, brilliantly acted. At some points you had to grit your teeth and watch some horrible bits in the film, it made me cry at the end. It's about a boy who's being bullied at school and passes by some skinheads and he becomes part of their gang, and then the tables are turned as an old friend comes out of prison and the some of them go with him. it's definitely worth watching, a very good film. It shows British life in the 1980's in a brilliant way but it's not still like that!!"
7/10 - Author: jimifilm (US) - "I saw this movie in ny- overall it kept my attention- The kid was really great- he was spunky and had a strong heart and his rise in the gang was captivating. There were some things I didn't like here though- I felt the director directing- there were a few poetic shots that I felt detracted from the overall focus of the film which was this kid's coming of age/responsibility.. The bad guy was standard skinhead bad guy and reminiscent of American history x and other racially didactic films but that didn't bother me as much as some of the shots the director would interject, drawing away from the root of the story and reminding us this is a movie. The kid went through trauma and his blue collar pride- which gave him rise in the gang, is what made me root for him. I wish the end was better though- the film as a whole was engaging but statement at the end, or lack thereof, didn't finish the story for me and was nothing new. overall entertaining but not brilliant- as it started out to be."
7/10 - Author: jimifilm (US) - "I saw this movie in ny- overall it kept my attention- The kid was really great- he was spunky and had a strong heart and his rise in the gang was captivating. There were some things I didn't like here though- I felt the director directing- there were a few poetic shots that I felt detracted from the overall focus of the film which was this kid's coming of age/responsibility.. The bad guy was standard skinhead bad guy and reminiscent of American history x and other racially didactic films but that didn't bother me as much as some of the shots the director would interject, drawing away from the root of the story and reminding us this is a movie. The kid went through trauma and his blue collar pride- which gave him rise in the gang, is what made me root for him. I wish the end was better though- the film as a whole was engaging but statement at the end, or lack thereof, didn't finish the story for me and was nothing new. overall entertaining but not brilliant- as it started out to be."
Gold Standard
16 is the required to pass
A1 - 4/4
A2 - 4/4
A3 - 4/4
A4 - 4/4
B - 4/4
C1 - 2/2
C2 - 1/1
D1 - 1/1
D2 - 1/1
D3 - 1/1
D4 - 0/1
D5 - 1/1
D6 - 1/1
D7 - 1/1
D8 - 1/1
Movie connections
American History X - Similar themes; violence, racism, gangs, urban environments.
BAFTA Awards
2008 Won BAFTA Film Award Best British Film
Mark Herbert
Shane Meadows
Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Screenplay - Original
Shane Meadows
Bangkok International Film Festival
2007 Nominated Golden Kinnaree Award Best Film
Shane Meadows
British Independent Film Awards
2006 Won British Independent Film Award Best British Independent Film
Most Promising Newcomer (On Screen)
Thomas Turgoose
Nominated British Independent Film Award Best Director
Shane Meadows
Best Screenplay
Shane Meadows
Best Supporting Actor/Actress
Joseph Gilgun
Best Supporting Actor/Actress
Stephen Graham
Best Technical Achievement
Ludovico Einaudi (original music)
Empire Awards, UK
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2008 Nominated Empire Award Best British Film
Best Newcomer
Thomas Turgoose
Flanders International Film Festival
2007 Nominated Grand Prix
Gijón International Film Festival
2007 Won Young Audience Award ("Enfants Terribles")
Shane Meadows
Golden Trailer Awards
2008 Nominated Golden Trailer Best Independent Poster
London Critics Circle Film Awards
2008 Nominated ALFS Award British Breakthrough - Acting
Thomas Turgoose
British Director of the Year
Shane Meadows
British Film of the Year
London Film Festival
2006 Won UK Film Talent Award
Mark Herbert
Mons International Festival of Love Films
2008 Won Best European Film
Shane Meadows
Young European Jury Award
Shane Meadows
Newport International Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Best Director Award
Shane Meadows
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/awards
King of the Gypsies (1995) (10mins)
Small Time (1996)(60mins)
Where's the Money, Ronnie? (1996) (12mins)
Twenty Four Seven (1997) (96mins)
A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) (90mins)
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) (104mins)
Dead Man's Shoes (2004) (90mins)
Northern Soul (2004) (30mins)
The Stairwell (2005) (15 seconds)
This Is England (2006) (100mins)
Somers Town (2008) (75mins)
Small Time (1996)(60mins)
Where's the Money, Ronnie? (1996) (12mins)
Twenty Four Seven (1997) (96mins)
A Room for Romeo Brass (1999) (90mins)
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) (104mins)
Dead Man's Shoes (2004) (90mins)
Northern Soul (2004) (30mins)
The Stairwell (2005) (15 seconds)
This Is England (2006) (100mins)
Somers Town (2008) (75mins)
Thomas Turgoose
In this audition, the casting director interviews Thomas Turgoose by asking him simple questions so he could get a basic idea of what Turgoose is like. Meadows wasn’t looking for an actor to play the part; he wanted someone who could be themselves, who is naturally like the character that he wanted. In a conventional audition, Turgoose would have never got the part, but Meadows claims to have seen a part of himself in the boy, who even asked for money to audition. Then, at the audition, he shows little interest until the interviewer mentions money - which catches his attention very quickly. It is his character which Meadows states to have appealed to him. “He had that survival instinct”.
Shane Meadows stands out from many other directors because of his life experiences. In his talks with Long Road Media, he explains how many other directors try to create a film about working class people, but fail to pull it off due to lack of experience, and this is why his films on the topic are so successful. As a boy, Meadows grew up in an environment very similar to Shawn’s, and even admits to falling in with a similar crowd at the age of 12. Discussing his earlier films, he states that none of them were ever expected be shown professionally; they were just him and his friends playing around with a camera, often filmed in a few hours, although he clearly takes filmmaking seriously. He also claims to go mainly be instinct, by feeling, and that his feelings are what leads him to create a lot of his best films. He treats filming as a learning experience, and every time he films something, he learns something new. This is how he first learned to direct – he borrowed a camera from a friend and taught himself everything he wanted to know.
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