This Is England Analysis.

This Is England
(Shane Meadows, 2007)

In the opening sequence there is no actual introduction of the main characters from the film. Therefor, we have no protagonist to identify with. However, the sequence gives us the idea that the film is about events and trends in Britain, during the 1980’s. This is indicated by all of the clips in the sequence being news headlines and clips of this era. The clips include landmark events that happened during 1983, for example, you have the video clips from the Falkland Islands, and the war that was going on there. There are clips of street riots, and parades of people holding the Union Jack flags, Margaret Thatcher, aerobics and Roland Rat.

Towards the beginning of the opening sequence there are documentary like clips of a housing estate, where most of the windows are smashed and boarded up, and graffiti on the brick walls of the garages with smashes car windows. This also gives us an indication that the This Is England is about the working class and the state of England in the 8o's.

The music throughout the sequence is played by a group from the eighties called Toots and Maytals. There are some clips during the sequence of this particular group live on, what seems like Top Of The Pops.