#this is England

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

[ageae]

When old man pubs come through with elite Indian food

[undergroundrockpress]

Woody (Joseph Gilgun) & Lol (Vicky McClure) / This Is England 86.

[vertigoartgore]

2008's Captain Britain and MI13 Vol.1 #7 cover by cover artist Bryan Hitch and colorist Morry Hollowell.

[jjeniuss]

my familiarization with the 'this is england' series has not gone unnoticed,,

the first pic shows a petite and unripe woody, upholding the traditions of the skinhead movement because of chill music; still without thoughts in his head or breaking circumstances.

the second pic is a ridiculous and still boyish woody, desperately and unsuccessfully trying to keep his faith in his lifestyle.

the third is probably my favorite version of woody;; he hasn't yet worked through the deepest shock of his double betrayal, carrying his decadence on his feet, all work and new relationships, smilingly telling his loved ones how great everything is.

god, he tried so hard.

the moments when woody's kin wouldn't leave him alone for a second and literally make him squeeze the smiley out of himself were tense and without context, and when he himself voiced that he was trying to leave his life due to a complete loss of meaning.. immediately a part of me died.

and then finally there's a 90s woody who's completed his transformation. a fully realized, mature and happy, forgiving and truly loving, cozy househusband. and that's how his story arc ended up being a happy ending for me.

woody became a real person.

[sowhatifiliveinfukuoka]

This Is England (2006)

🎬 Shane Meadows

[cunt-dracula0]

“the big three”

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[h1991sworldss]

Today I met #joegilgun he was so nice! #thisisengland #brassic

[hesbuckcompton-baby]

Underrated historical pieces (for when you're looking for recommendations)

I don't know if it's just me, but historical movie rec lists have become supersaturated with the same few titles lately (yes I have seen Hacksaw Ridge, yes I have seen Little Women, leave me alone) - so I thought I'd come up with a shortlist of my own! Below the cut are a few titles I haven't seen anyone talk about anywhere NEAR enough in my opinion, in case you need something new to watch!

Summerland (2020), dir. Jessica Swale

Summerland is set in Devon, England during the Second World War, and follows Alice Lamb as she is forced to take in Frank, a young evacuee boy, against her will. As their relationship develops, Alice learns to open herself up to others, and her budding friendship with Frank leads her back towards another relationship she thought was lost forever. If you're looking for an LGBT period drama - THIS ONE RIGHT HERE!!! Alice Lamb, you are my favourite grumpy lesbian academic. Seriously though, this movie is so so lovely - definitely a good one if you're looking for a happy-cry.

This is England (2006), dir. Shane Meadows

This is England follows Shaun, a young boy struggling to fit in in 1980s England, who finds support and friendship among a gang of local skinheads. At once gritty and sensitive, it provides a personal look at the darker side of British culture and the process of indoctrination into racist ideologies. This movie arguably receives the attention it deserves within the UK, but falls into the underrated category everywhere else. Despite being almost 20 years old, it remains alarmingly relevant, and every single member of the cast puts in an incredible performance. (I'd recommend checking for content warnings before giving this (or its subsequent TV shows) a watch)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018), dir. Mike Newell

Set in the aftermath of the Second World War, this movie follows writer Juliet Ashton as she travels to the island of Guernsey to meet a group of locals who found solace in her book during the Nazi occupation. However, as she grows closer to the group, she begins to uncover the tragedy at their core. This is such a perfect comfort movie. Every character is so so lovely, and honestly I've wanted to visit (/live on) Guernsey since the first time I watched this. It's a really wonderful watch, and sheds a nice insight into the experiences of the Channel Islands during WW2, which isn't something I've seen covered in other films set during this period.

Small Axe (2020), dir. Steve McQueen

Small Axe is an anthology series documenting the lives and experiences of London's West Indian population as they struggle through and fight against racial discrimination. I feel like the hype for this show died as soon as the year's awards season finished, and that's a CRIME. Britain's history of racial activism is generally overlooked in popular media, and this series did a wonderful job of showcasing both the pivotal and personal events that shaped the experiences of the Windrush generation. My personal favourites from this series were Education and Mangrove, but every episode is unique and well worth the watch.

Detroit (2017), dir. Kathryn Bigelow

In Detroit, public outrage is sparked when a police raid is carried out against black patrons of a local club, which grows more violent as the night progresses. This movie is terrifying. Every performance is excellent and harrowing, but Will Poulter's in particular has stuck with me since I first watched Detroit because it's just horrifying to watch. It's intense and brutal, but an important representation of the kind of violence that acted as a catalyst in the American civil rights movement.

Gosford Park (2001), dir. Robert Altman

Gosford Park follows a group of 1930s English aristocrats as they gather at a country estate for a weekend of socialising. However, when a member of the party is murdered, suspicion is cast upon everyone, and illicit secrets begin to come to light. Think Downton Abbey with murder. But then again, both were created/written by Julian Fellowes, so it makes sense. Almost painfully British, Gosford Park is a quick and clever indictment of the English upper classes that is thoroughly entertaining the whole way through.

Alias Grace (2017), dir. Mary Harron

Alias Grace follows Irish immigrant Grace Marks as she sits down with a doctor to attempt to recall the details of a murder she was accused of committing a decade prior. Based on Margaret Atwood's fictionalised retelling of a controversial, real-life case, this series offers an interesting insight into the oppression of Victorian working-class women, and the enduring cultural fascination with female violence. It's been a few years since I watched this show, but GOD I was so obsessed with it, so it's definitely time for a rewatch. Sarah Gadon is an absolutely brilliant lead, and Grace's recounting of events will leave you forever wondering what truly happened in this story.

Pride (2014), dir. Matthew Warchus

Set amidst the 1984 miners' strikes, Pride follows a small LGBT group from London as they raise money to support a small Welsh mining town, whose lives are badly struck by Thatcher's threats to close the mining pits they have built their lives around. Through their efforts, the group finds an unlikely community of supporters, breaching social barriers to lift each other up in times of hardship. Evidently I believe in saving the best for last, as Pride is definitely my personal favourite on this list - hell, it's one of my favourite movies EVER. Surprisingly niche despite its excellent cast (Andrew Scott, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton - to name a few), this movie is just utterly wonderful, and I guarantee you will spend the entire time either grinning or sobbing - trust me, I always do.

(not-so-subtle letterboxd plug, but for anyone interested, I've compiled a larger list of movies about British history HERE)

[walkswithmycamera]

Kendal, market town in the South Lakes of Cumbria, United Kingdom.

[theclassymike]

Michael Socha in Season 1 Episode 4 of Changing Ends (2023)

[chelseajackarmy]

The Firm (2009)

[washgoth]

[rowanwillow06]

23rd April 2024

I did a lot of work at school today, managed to do quite a bit of essay writing! I think I should start posting these in the morning so I can write what I wanna get done.

For the rest of the day it’s a chill revision session:

Make revision cards for This is England including in depth scene analysis

Complete 1 essay plan for this is England

Start putting together all the essay questions I need too.

I am also going to sort two birthday presents out I haven’t yet, but it’ll all work out. I haven’t spent much time outside lately so that’s my goal for this week. When it gets warmer I do intend to start studying in my garden or the forest which sounds nice especially if I bring a picnic :3

[sowhatifiliveinfukuoka]

This Is England (2006)

🎬 Shane Meadows