Social Realism
Alice Humphreys
Setting, characters, generic conventionsOne of the main aims of social realism
films is to depict realistic and everyday
situations, as the messages that social
realism films carry, are often to protest
about, or reveal social and racial injustice,
economic hardship; through unvarnished
pictures of life’s struggle; often depicting
working class activities as heroic.
For social realism to show the social
struggle, injustice of society, tarnished
morals and standards of living, a serious,
realistic, and direct atmosphere must be
created for the audience to connect with
the characters, emotion and message, and
not get distracted by special effects, ‘over
the top’ music, over complicated structure,
etc.
Natural, dull, un-forced lighting is often used
continuously and throughout to focus fully on the
character/location. Close-ups and extreme close
ups are frequently used to engage the audience
to the characters and fully see their emotions and
reactions. Using close up shots will build a sense
of relationship and familiarity with the audience
and the character, encouraging sympathy and
empathy, pulling in the audience’s attention and
focus.
In many contemporary social realism films, such
as ‘This is England’ directed by Shane Meadows,
montages of locations or characters, without
speech, will be shown at points to fully create a
sense of location, and time. Location shots are
often un-dramatised and simple, showing gritty
and realistic places that are often thought to be
related with lower and working classes.
Characters represented in social realism films are
often working class, either seen as heroic, or
or if the other extreme; upper/middle class
characters, who usually represent greed and
selfishness, or naivety.
Examples of social realism
films from 1961 to 2009
• A Taste of Honey, Directed by Tony
Richardson- 1961
• A Kind of Loving, Directed by John
Schlesinger- 1962
• Kes, directed by Ken Loach, 1969
• Trainspotting, Directed by Danny Boyle1996
• East is East, directed by Damien
O’Donnel- 1999
• Billy Elliot, directed by Stephen Daldry2000
• Bend it Like Beckham, directed by
Gurinda Chadha- 2002
• This is England, Directed by Shane
Meadows- 2006
• London to Brighton, Directed by Paul
Andrew williams- 2006
• Fish Tank, Directed by Andrea Arnold2009
Why are Social Realism Films so Popular?
Rather than fictional, exaggerated,
unbelievable and ‘over the top’ films, social
realism films have the factor of ‘hitting
home’ with social issues and gritty realism
and people and audiences truly can connect
to. Socially realistic films deal with these
issues and present the characters in an unsensored, un-masked and ‘in your face’ way,
that make audiences deal with racial and
social issues, and economic hardships that
many want to hide away from, giving these
films a feel of importance, bravery and
honesty, that often shock audiences as well
as educate them.
Comparing an old Social realism Trailer,
with a New one..
Kes, Directed By Ken Loach, 1969
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRYvUpsrqmg
Fish tank, directed by Andrea Arnold, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLToqiVSRH0
Comparing an old Social realism Trailer,
with a New one..
Even though ‘Kes’ was released 40 years before ‘Fish Tank’, similar
generic conventions are used, such as, simple and obvious camera
angles and natural lighting to give a more realistic and natural
atmosphere, a montage of unpleasant or taboo situations (such as a
child being hit, getting into a fight, etc) that the main character comes
across; showing the world of the film in an unvarnished, ‘real life’ way,
etc. The trailers are also similar in the way that they both use simple
and slow credits and intertitles, that offer information about cast,
director , ratings and review quotes.
The two trailers differentiate in ways mainly due to the time period in
which they were produced. Things like the quality of the images, and the
language and accent.
Examples of Social Realism Films
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a
7BFZqQ4ruA
Fish Tank was Directed by Andre
Arnold and was released in 2009
Just from watching the trailer it is easy to see
the use of social realism’s most common
generic conventions. The film allows you to
peer, is a realistic and unvarnished way, into
the world of a working class girl, living in a
council estate flat, and her struggles with
family life, living conditions and trying to follow
her passion. Fish tank was quoted as “The most
honoured British film of the year” and won 3
European and 8 British film award
nominations, including best actress, best
director and best film.
On the next slide there are visual examples of
how in camera composition, lighting,
characters and setting is used in the film, and
how it fits in clearly to the Social Realism
Genre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6O7sad9hI
Trainspotting is a 1996 Social realism/drama film directed by Danny Boyle, based on the novel of the same name
by Irvine Welsh. The movie follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980s economically depressed area of
Edinburgh and their passage through life. The film fits into the Social Realism theme through its use of common
generic conventions, such as characters, lighting, music and the way it shows you in an un masked way, the
realistic life style and social world of a group of heroin addicts, and questions society’s idea of ‘leading a normal
life’, especially in the ending speech:
“So why did I do it? I could offer a million answers, all false. The truth is that I'm a bad person, but that's going to
change, I'm going to change. This is the last of this sort of thing. I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight
and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm going to be just like you: the job, the family, the fucking
big television, the washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electrical tin opener, good health, low
cholesterol, dental insurance, mor tgage, starter home, leisurewear, luggage, three-piece suite, DIY, game shows,
junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family
Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing the gutters, getting by, looking ahead, to the day you die.”
On the next slide you will find some visual examples of how the film has used social realism’s
generic conventions, such as camera angles, lighting and setting.
The Unloved
The directorial debut from Oscar-nominated actress
Samantha Morton, this powerful drama about a young girl
growing up in a children's home provides an intimate child'seye view of the UK's care system.
Samantha Morton's directorial debut is a powerful single
drama about a young girl growing up in a children's home.
Working alongside acclaimed writer Tony Grisoni, Morton has
created a fictional script that gives an honest and intimate
child's-eye view of the care system in the UK.
Filmed in Morton's hometown of Nottingham, the two young
leads - Molly Windsor as Lucy, and Lauren Socha as Lauren were cast through a series of open auditions held across
Nottingham schools, drama groups and at The Television
Workshop, which Morton herself attended aged 12.
Head of Channel 4 drama, Liza Marshall, says: 'We at Channel 4
are very excited to be supporting Sam in her first directorial
venture. This is a story very close to her heart, and her
empathy and understanding of children in care should make for
an exceptional film.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-unloved/episodeguide/series-1/episode-1
The Telegraph's Michael Deacon gave the film a positive review
describing it as 'Riveting' and 'Powerful from start to finish'; On
the other hand, he stated the film was 'Stomach churning' and
'Hard to watch'; however to his surprise he couldn't take his
eyes off the film and praised Morton on creating an 'Intense'
and 'Vivid' dramatic film.
Filmed entirely on location in Nottingham, the film cost
£1.5million to make. The title of the film was inspired
by a newspaper article Morton had read about
children in the care system .Morton spent time in
other cities such as Newcastle, Glasgow and around
London although decided it was best to make a film
about the world she knew and grew up in. Originally
wanting to set the film in 1989, Morton later decided
against it as she wanted to focus on the struggles of
the present day and not want audiences to write it off
as a historical piece. The scene where Lucy witnesses
the rape of Lauren didn't have Windsor present at the
time as it was deemed inappropriate; her involvement
in the scene was filmed separately and added later.
Blurred, awkward angles, to create the sense of
confusion and un-understanding that the child feels.
•Long, empty, calm and simple shots to contrast with
the quick paced edited shots, that create the sense of
boredom and loss.
•Smooth yet handheld camera movements, seems
less staged and more realistic
•Completely realistic lighting; fits in with the realism
theme
On the next slide you will find some visual examples of how the
film has used social realism’s generic conventions, such as
camera angles, lighting and setting.