Social Realism

Although the British film industry has an illustrious past, including melodramas that rival the '40s Hollywood film noirs, it is the field of social realism that has provided the most prolonged form of cinematic entertainment. Social realism is more than just a genre, it is the dominant form of cinema in British film. Just as the classic Hollywood narrative dominates the American film industry regardless of genre, so social realism and political awareness permeate British cinema. This is as true today as it was half a century ago, with social realism evident in popular British films such as Trainspotting, Brassed Off, Nil By Mouth, My Name Is Joe, This Is England, Human Traffic and 24 Hour Party People. It depicts social and racial injusticice, economic hardship and unvarnished images of lifes struggles through, working class activities that are portrayed as heroic.