This Is England now a 15 certificate in Camden and Westminster
Story by Jack Foley
CAMDEN and Westminster councils have decided to go against the BBFC’s decision to classify This Is England as an 18 certificate and have rated it a 15.
Bristol City Council was the first to veto the BBFC rating, describing the 18 certificate as “idiotic” and awarding the critically acclaimed film a 15 so that more teenagers could see it.
The move is an example of local councils taking power into their own hands to decide a film’s classification – something that only happens on rare occasions.
The BBFC insists it made the rating because of a scene of racist violence and the high level of profanity throughout. But the decision has been heavily criticised by both director Shane Meadows and the film’s cast, who believe it contains a strong message for the youth of today and raises many contemporary issues concerning racism despite being set in the 1980s.
Meadows’ film has won Best British Independent Film and the Most Promising Newcomer Award (Thomas Turgoose) at the British Independent Film Awards. This is in addition to the Jury Prize awarded at the Rome Festival and Mark Herbert’s Dunhill award at the London Film Festival.
Set in 1983, the film follows the fortunes of 12-year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose), an isolated lad growing up in a grim coastal town, whose father has died fighting in the Falklands war.
Over the course of the summer holiday he finds fresh male role models when those in the local skinhead scene take him in. With his new friends Shaun discovers a world of parties, first love and the joys of Dr Martin boots.
But then he meets Combo (Stephen Graham), an older, racist skinhead who has recently got out of prison. As Combo’s gang harass the local ethnic minorities, the course is set for a rite of passage that will hurl Shaun from innocence to experience.
The ensemble cast includes newcomer Turgoose playing the role of Shaun, Stephen Graham (Gangs of New York), Jo Hartley (Dead Man’s Shoes) and Joe Gilgun (TV’s Emmerdale’).
It’s out now in cinemas nationwide.