Genre Essay

To what extent is your chosen text typical of its genre?

This is England is typical of a social realist film as it involves certain conventions that are typical of the social realism genre. For example, the locations used in social realist films are rarely sets that are built for that purpose, they are more likely to be real locations such as council estates and the like. This adds to the films sense of realism as locations used are seen everyday by the British people who will be familiar with it and therefore enforces the 'realism'. This Is England features many shots on council estates, Shaun's house for example is on a council estate. This also adds to the cramped shots when it is filmed indoors. This works in This is England's favour for the most part. The scene in which Combo makes his 'This is England' speech is filmed in his cramped flat which gives the shots a more menacing look as he makes his speech and further emphasises the discomfort of the scene to watch as a viewer. This is emphasised by the point of view shots that are used from the perspective of Woody's gang who are sat low to the floor looking up at Combo.
The non-professional actors used are also a common convention of a social realist film, Shaun is played by Thomas Turgoose for example and this is his debut in acting of any kind. This enhances the realism as he is not an experienced actor and will only be able to act based on his own initiative and with help from the director.
Themes are vital to a social realist film, This is England tackles themes such as masculinity, racism, poverty and independence. As the film follows Shaun's summer holidays we initially see his lack of male role models as his father has died in the Falklands and he has no friends. Woody takes him under his wing and Shaun now has a 'big brother' type to look up to. Racism stems entirely from Combo in this movie. Before his arrival the film features no racist comments or remarks of any kind. Poverty is an underlying theme in this movie, Shaun's lack of a change of clothes in the beginning of the movie illustrates this. Independence is what Shaun is heading towards throughout the movie and is finally illustrated in his discard of the St George of England flag at the end of the feature.
The iconography of the movie must be correct in a social realist film as it must be as authentic as possible, therefore key signifiers of the time it is set must be visible. As this movie is set in the 80's we see iconic objects of the time, the way the skinheads dress for example is one of the most iconic things most people would remember from the 80's therefore their distinctive style must be exact. This is England does look authentic in it's style, from the cars seen in the movie to the shirts worn by the actors.