This Is England - Preview
Preview by Jack Foley
THIS Is England, the new film from Shane Meadows, director of Dead Man’s Shoes, is the story of a summertime school holiday in 1983.
Twelve-year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is 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 been released from 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.
This Is England was described as Meadows’ “most mature and fully realised film” when it was shown as part of the London Film Festival last year. And it’s notable for many reasons, not least the performance of young Turgoose who deserves a Bafta nomination at the very least for his heartfelt portrayal of Shaun.
Turgoose – affectionately referred to as Tommo by Meadows – is an unknown who struck a chord with the director. Although he had no real structure in his life and had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, as well as rejected from playing an extra in the school play, he seemed like an obvious choice to Meadows.
It was a matter of artistic truth, he admits adding: “I thought I’d much rather take a chance on a kid like Tommo and risk failure. If you turn your back on the person that’s meant to play the part you shouldn’t make the film anyway.
“It had become a beautiful full circle thing: that you go out there to make a film about yourself and you end up finding yourself.”
The subsequent experience wasn’t without its bumps and Tommo even doubted himself at one stage and had to be talked back into completing the project – but the results are amazing.
This Is England is another major triumph for Meadows that is must-see viewing. It opens in UK cinemas on April 27, so put the date in your diary now!