Social Realism PowerPoint
With Examples
Louis Eastwood
Social realism Introduction and themes
Social Realism is a genre of film focusing on different issues surrounding many people
in a modern society. It is an artistic movement expressed in visual and realistic arts,
which zooms in on a wide range of topics such as: economic hardship, social and also
racial justice. Usually B.S.R films are based on one certain theme and the development
of it. in which it helps the story go on, e.g. Bullet Boy is based on gangsters, violence,
gun crimes, and different relationships with the police and son and mother
• Other common themes:
• Money
• Drugs
• Prostitution
• Sex
• Class
• Religion
• Political views
• alcohol
Location/settings
The locations are usually set in very poor and deprived areas, but most of all everyday
places which anybody may come across in there day to day life. Locations are filmed in
actual real places, which is different from most genres, which are mainly shot in
studio/staged areas. The reasoning behind filming in these everyday areas makes the
film seem more true to real life and more relatable to the viewer.
Most common locations and setting are:
• Places of work, eg, factory's or small shops
• Council estates
• Fields/parks
• Busy inner city areas
• Abandoned squats
• Pubs
Location examples from different films
Narrative Conventions
• The use of unknown actors, these actors could be
anyone, making it more realistic. Also many
British Social Realism films cannot afford well
known/ Hollywood actors, e.g Ami Ameen as ‘Trife’
in Kidulthood
• Social class is a main aspect, most SRF deal with the working class, as
many working class families have very hard and depressing lives it makes
everything more realistic
• A lot of the dialogue is abusive and relative to certain places, for example
strong accents and also use of slang. The dialogue is also different to most
other genres, instead of bringing the narrative forward it more like having
a conversation/chat
• Scripts heavily reliant on improvisation, making everything seem more
realistic and un scripted. This makes scenes seem more casual and
relaxed.
Characters
•
The characters in social realism tend to be lower/ working class people, who tend
to be having a hard time making a living. The characters tend to have been caught
up in drugs or violence. Family’s tend to be single parented and lacking in a
powerful role model. Unlike most films social realism doesn’t tend to base them
film around one male protagonist, instead most films revolve around more than
one person, who are typically flawed and not quite as heroic as the typical
protagonist from an action movie.
From Trainspottingshows a man getting
involved with drugs
to forget about the
sorrows of his
everyday life.
Trainspotting- showing
his carelessness by
laying over a train track.
Connotes a character
not enjoying life and
not afraid of death
Kidulthood- one kid
threatening another with a
knife. Hoodies and knifes are
very typical of the genre.
Use of Camera
Trainspotting- A wide shot used to establish the
scene. This shots helps create the mood and also
the togetherness of the characters. The grey and
misty weather creates a very depressing mood
and the fact that four characters are standing
together connotes that they are all feeling in the
same bad mood
Kidulthood- A low angled shot making the 3 violent
boys look powerful and dangerous. It is also a point
of view shot from the boy on the floor being
beaten, showing the weak and defenceless
position that he is in.
Full Monty- A low angled close up shot making the
lower class man look happy and powerful. This
shows that lower class individuals can enjoy life too
even with a great deal money and wealth