Selling the Brits

How are images of Britain used to market films?

Island People (1940)

What image of Britain is being shown here?

'A Green and Pleasant land' idealised visions of Britain

'Heritage' cinema Literary adaptations 'Urban fairytale' UK film used to reinforce patriotism (for domestic audience) UK film used as a tourist marketing strategy

 Term used to present a particular style of costume drama Presents the past as spectacle museum aesthetic where the past is displayed for visual pleasure The past and our relationship with it is not questioned or criticised The Mise en scene is more significant than the narrative or plot. Patriotic vision of Britain Popular when British national identity is questioned. WWII and 1980s

Heritage cinema

Why do you think these idealised images are successful?

Idealised images of Britain

Conforms to US market's stereotype of the British 'Anglophilia'. Reinforces nostalgic vision of Britain and British values to domestic audience 'Escapist'/positive representation of modern Britain 'Literary' status treated as 'prestige' films of an 'intelligent' audience.

Conventions to spot:
Polite, reserved, aristocratic, cockney, honourable Upper middles class lifestyles Romantic vision of the past Literary associations Sumptuous costume Sanitised view of Britain.

'Gritty Realism'
Opposite of Heritage cinema critical of British life, not reinforcing patriotic values (Trainspotting 'It's shite being Scottish') Challenging to audience's comfort zones: Unflinching portrait of the harsh reality of modern Britain

Gritty Realism
Often shocking examination of the dark side of human behaviour Deals with social problems and often focuses on working or 'underclass' characters

Bullet Boy
Watch the clip - what elements mark this as low budget social realism? How would this appeal to a UK audience rather than a US audience?

Bullet boy

'Post-Heritage' cinema
Claire Monk's phrase for historical dramas that don't just 'display' the past, but 'interrogates' the past and our relationship to it. Questions how the past is represented. Explores contemporary themes in historical setting e.g. Wind That Shakes The Barley set in early 20th century Ireland, but the brutality of the English soldiers to Irish civilians is used an analogy to British troops today.

This is England
Meadows wants to portray the Britain never seen in costume dramas and 'urban fairytales'. Mostly shoots in Nottingham and the Midlands. Most characters are losers, low lives, criminals and juvenile delinquents but many are sympathetic. This is England directly addresses British national identity through its examination of racist skinhead culture of the 80s.

Note what defines this film as Social Realism. Why might this not be successful in the USA? Does this matter?

Class work:
Should there be a 'quota' system to ensure British films are not drowned out by bigbudget Hollywood movies? Do British films today reflect an accurate or idealised vision of society? Is British cinema in crisis?

Task: Categories of Film funding

Go on the BFI website. How many types of funding are there? What are the categories?