#TBT Movie Review: 'This Is England'

I viewed the 2006 British cult hit "This Is England" during a screening for a film studies class. I had to write a review and — because I loved the movie so much — I decided to share it.

Shane Meadows opens his wildly entertaining and provocative film "This Is England" with a montage of news clips that illustrate an uproariously changing country in 1983. From shots of a rocking David Bowie and a regal Princess Diana, to disturbing ones of the Brixton riots and the war in the Falklands, this opener (soundtracked to a great song by Toots and The Maytals) provides an effective adrenaline shot for the rest of the film.

Thomas Turgoose, in his first acting gig, stars as Shaun, a 12-year-old kid wading the choppy waters of primary school. After a fight with a school bully, he runs into a gang of young skinheads who dutifully take him under their wing. At first, the group gets along amicably. Shaun even undergoes a skinhead makeover complete with Doc Martens, a shaved head and suspenders. But it isn't until Combo (Stephen Graham), an older, gruffer skinhead, returns from prison that the film's underlying tension erupts.

The film portrays how the skinhead culture in the 1980s transformed from its roots of working class youths influenced by "rude boys" of Jamaica into a tool for white supremacists. At first, Shaun's gang, led by Woody (Joseph Gilgun), is nothing but a fun time; Shaun enjoys the feeling of inclusion in the hijinks they create and even has fun wooing a punk-rock girl (Rosamund Hanson) who is much older than he is. But Combo sees himself as a mentor to Shaun, and it's not long before he's touting his skewed racist views into the boy's malleable young brain.

The film also takes place during an unsteady time in England. Margaret Thatcher, four years into her position as prime minister, was dealing with a dramatic economic crisis. It's stated early on in the film that Shaun lost his father in the Falklands War, a battle supposedly brought on by Thatcher to reinstate national pride and offer a distraction from the financial crisis.

Overall, the film eloquently portrays the vulnerabilities of lost youngsters looking for a place to belong. Turgoose is a delight as Shaun and his performance acts as the (successful) centerpiece for the entire film. Sure, his smile is toothy and adorable and his cheeks are pinch-worthy, but Turgoose doesn't shy away from spouting profanities and taking the darker, emotional scenes in stride. Even Combo, the corrupt father figure of the film, illustrates a wide range of emotions, from his energizing, titular "this is England" speech to his quieter interactions with Lol (Vicky McClure), another young skinhead girl.

But it's Meadows who wins in the end. His film is colorful, edgy and strikes all the right chords, both narratively and artistically.