Realism in British Film

Traditionally independent British films are low-budget and use ordinary locations and unknown actors to portray realism. Many British films have been very successful using these methods especially recently with a modern wave of highly rated films such as; Brick Lane, This Is England and Kidulthood.

John Grierson very often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film and the founder of the British Documentary movement during the 1930’s. He was born in 1898 in Deanston in Scotland to two hard working, religious and political parents who raised him with liberal politic and humanistic ideals. Grierson served in the Royal Navy during World War 1, after which he graduated from Glasgow University and then went on to Chicago University in America. During his time in America, Grierson became interested in mass communications, and how the media fueled propaganda. In 1926 he was asked to write several criticisms about film aesthetics and audience reception for the New York Sun newspaper, this came after many critics were intrigued by Grierson’s outspoken film philosophies. In his return to England was given the opportunity to make a documentary film entitled “Drifters” (1929) about the North Sea herring fishermen. This was a relatively new type of film, which was quite unlike anything the British film industry or Hollywood were distributing. The film gained respect from film makers and was given praise from press and audience. After this success Grierson went on to become Films Officer at the General Post Office film unit and open his own Film Centre (which advised documentaries). He also produced and contributed to over thirty documentaries until his death in 1972.
One of the Most renown of his contributions is that to 1936 documentary “Night Mail” which follows a mail train from London to Scotland. In this he narrates a poem written by W.H.Auden which is spoken over music by Benjamin Britten.

Tony Richardson 1928-1991 was an English Academy award winning film-director and producer. He was a looked upon as a one of the “New Wave” British directors and directed 28 films after founding Woodfall Films with playwright and friend John Osborne. Richardson used social realism, depicting working class British citizens who were living in council flats during the late 50’s and early 60’s in his film “Look Back in Anger” and this Kitchen Sink realism style transcends in his later productions. During the mid 1960’s Richardson was awarded two Academy Awards for his picture Tom Jones (1963), which was “one of the most critically acclaimed comedies of its time”.

Ken Loach (born 1936) is an English film and television director who has been awarded with success throughout his forty year career. He has demanded respect from many directors of today, with his most famous film in 1969 “Kes” which is ranked number 7 in the British Film Institute’s top ten British films. Kes portrays the story of a troubled boy and his kestrel. The location paints an authentic portrait of working class life in the mining areas of Yorkshire in the 1960’s. Modern British films such as Billy Elliott have taken much from Kes in terms of late 60’s settings and shot types. Loach is renowned for using unknown actors or those who have experienced aspects of the lives of the characters in his films instead of well known actors who would be more than willing to take up a role in a Loach film if given the offer. Loach also tends to not give his actors the script until a few minutes before shooting if not at all, as most of the scenes in his productions are unscripted. He believes this gives emphasis of genuine interplay between actors that wouldn’t be experienced if the script was over analysed.