This is England

Question 1

what year is the film set?

Answer 1

1983

Question 2

in what war did Shaun’s father die fighting in?

Answer 2

the falklands war

Question 3

what do we see in the opening scene?

Answer 3

A montage of clips from the 80s (useful to understand the films context)

Question 4

what ideology do we see in the opening scene?

Answer 4

social, political and cultural contexts of the film including an introduction to thatcher government

Question 5

what do we see in the first scene of Shaun that introduce the working class of Britain?

Answer 5

• peeling walls
• sleeping in pants (no PJ’s)
• don’t see a parent suggests the child has to look after himself

Question 6

what representations do we see of woody the first time wee meet him?

Answer 6

going against what is expected of him - stereo-typically (skinheads) arrogant, aggressive and violent, but Woody is approachable
(“I feel bad now”)

Question 7

explain how the editing adds an affect in the scene where Combo attacks Milky.

Answer 7

frantic editing - causes a rise in concern for Milky
music is also layered on top of the clip which adds to the emotion of the event

Question 8

what makes a film british?

Answer 8

cultural elements, predominantly British cast, set in the UK/focus on British people

Question 9

what is the BFI cultural test?

Answer 9

it is a points based test which determines whether a film is British and qualifies for tax reliefs

Question 10

what is social realism in film?

Answer 10

draws attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class to critique the power structures behind these conditions

Question 11

which character do we see racial divide?

Answer 11

Combo - strong feelings about ethnic minorities taking jobs and homes ‘away from him’

Question 12

how is England representing?

Answer 12

an undesirable place to live (violence, poverty and politics making it unappealing)

Question 13

how is poverty represented?

Answer 13

high at the time - Thatcher introduced the “right to buy” policy for council tenants, allowing people to buy houses at a discounted price to reduce the available housing stock for those on low pay

Question 14

how is Shaun’s character represented?

Answer 14

innocent, naive, angry (at his dad’s death), easily manipulated

Question 15

how is Woody’s character represented?

Answer 15

caring, sees the good in people

Question 16

how is Milky represented?

Answer 16

loving, influenced by Combo (puts him before the girl he’s seeing), privileged

Question 17

how is combo represented?

Answer 17

unhinged, troubled (childhood & lack of relationships - Lol), influenced easily by others & easily influences others (fuels Shauns anger in the direction of racism), jealous (of milky/family unit), unloved

Question 18

what is Shaun’s relationship like with Woody?

Answer 18

Father-son like relationship - he has rebuilt something he lost (father died in the Falklands War)

Question 19

how is youth represented in the bullying scene? (Shaun’s trousers are made fun of)

Answer 19

– Highlights the importance of fashion to youth subcultures
– The idea of working class Britain is clear here as Shaun uses violence to sort his problems out (which could be due to the fact he is grieving the loss of his father and simply loses his temper), violence and aggression as a way of solving problems is a stereotypical feature of the working classes.

Question 20

how is youth represented when Shaun meets Woody’s gang for the first time?

Answer 20

– Representations of this group are immediately favourable, despite our stereotype of the youth hanging around, possibly waiting to ‘start’ on passers by e.g Shaun
– The youth are just ‘hanging around’, therefore going against the British stereotype of the working class being ‘grafters’ - could be because of high levels of unemployment at the time, or that they’re avoiding the responsibility that comes with employment

Question 21

how is youth represented when Gadget gets Shaun to smash up houses?

Answer 21

– Representations are that skinhead youths were all hooligans, running around and smashing things up - showing that they are aggressive
– This shows how the working class were the worst affected within this period as many places were being closed down and left for nothing - abandoned buildings that would have been family homes
– They were unemployed and in their spare time they would cause destruction (may be because of boredom), most likely acting out the Falklands war - fake guns and weapons

Question 22

how is youth represented when Cynthia goes to the cafe to confront Woody and his gang?

Answer 22

– They believe that adults are above them and that what they say is in fact right (different to today’s youths who would have answered back)
– Represents the disposable income that the teens within this decade had (cafes/shops)
– When confronted with an adult figure the teens are tamed (signifiers - Lol stuttering when answering, the whole group going quiet)
– Woody is shown as a respectful and caring characters - saying ‘Love’ and being very apologetic.

Question 23

how is youth represented in the scene where Shaun gets his head shaved and gets dressed up?

Answer 23

– Woody within this scene is signified again as the new father figure for Shaun - Woody is acting like a proud father when Shaun is all dressed up and looking like a skinhead
– Lol in this scene is showed to try and act responsible - she keeps asking Shaun whether he is sure and if his mum would be okay with this
– Warming to gadget - shown us his vulnerability and now he is accepting of Shaun
– To be able to fit in within society you have to dress in the right and look the part (skinhead subculture - need doc martens, shaved head and ben sherman shirt)

Question 24

what are the factors that form a part of Shaun’s identity in the film in terms of masculinity?

Answer 24

– His relationship to his father – lost his father at a young age to a brutal war
– His relationship to the various members of the gang – heavily influenced by these
– This takes control over his life and determines his confidence

Question 25

where do we see toxic masculinity in the film?

Answer 25

– Woody’s group ruining the building (only see the men doing this, the girls are only seen in more social settings (cafes and parties) and don’t take part in the more ‘masculine’ things)
– Combo says man up dont cry (check this)

Question 26

who’s the most vulnerable person in the narrative?

Answer 26

Shaun. He is a young boy who is easily manipulated. He is easily led into dangerous situations (Combo attacking Milky, relationship with smell)

Question 27

what ideas about skinhead ideologies do we get through the narrative?

Answer 27

we get two impressions from skinheads: Combo’s group shows us our perceptions are correct - they are violent and aggressive, and they take advantage of vulnerable people (Shaun), however, Woody’s group shows us that they are not always what they seem (their looks do not mean they participate in far right violence, they are down to earth and caring people who are simply outcasts)

Question 28

what is the equilibrium in the film? (todorov’s theory)

Answer 28

Shaun going to school, getting bullied, dealing with the loss of his Father (this was social realism at the time)

Question 29

what is the distruption of the equilibrium in the film? (todorov’s theory)

Answer 29

Shaun meets Woody and the skinheads

Question 30

what is the realisation of the distruption in the film? (todorov’s theory)

Answer 30

Combo returns – clarifies what is wrong with the country and what they need to fight for

Question 31

what is the attempt to restore the equilibrium in the film? (todorov’s theory)

Answer 31

Combo goes on a mission with Shaun to try and take back jobs in England, to take revenge for the Falklands etc by joining the British National Party (BNP)

Question 32

what is the attempt to resolution in the film? (todorov’s theory)

Answer 32

Shaun realises Combo is mentally ill (after brutally attacking Milky)
He then forms a strong bond with his mother (have a discussion about his father, and about milky and discovered he will be ok)

Question 33

what are the selling points to the film? what’s different to hollywood films?

Answer 33

the realism in British culture - the film shows which shows real issues such as poverty, and identity, and doesn’t show a glamorized version of life in England which hollywood films would use

Question 34

what type of action do we see in the film and why?

Answer 34

violence is a common theme to show us the hard hitting reality of the political conflict at the time