Analysis of codes & conventions:

British council estate/social

realism drama
British council estate films are generally set on council estates
(public housing) and in working-class areas and neighbourhoods,
also referred to as inner-city. Narratives would be mainly set in
modern-day as the concept of council estates is common and
normalised in British society. However, the time of setting can be
dated back to the mid/late-1960s, as British filmmaker Ken Loach
tackled the social/political issues consisting of poverty, labour
rights and homelessness in council estate-dominated and working-
class areas. An example of storylines based in the past would be
This Is England (2006), set in the 1980s.

Establishing shots and two shots are two examples of camerawork

often used in these films. Council estates are considered to be
‘urban’ based on the environment, hostility of that environment and
the area in general: rap/hip-hop, pop and reggae would be
common in modern-day British council estate films due to the
youth population and ethnic minority population.

Recurring situations in British council estate films normally consist

of poverty/financial issues, crime, gentrification as well as other
examples and topics: but these three are the most common and in
fact relatable to those who live in council housing. Examples of film
titles would be: Kes (1969), Bullet Boy (2004), Kidulthood (2006),
Red Road (2006), This Is England (2006), Harry Brown (2009),
Fish Tank (2009), Looking for Eric (2009), Attack the Block (2011),
Ill Manors (2012) and The Last Tree (2019).

British council estate films do reflect social, political and historical

events. Persistent and ever-changing issues such as poverty,
crime and gentrification date back to as far in the 1960s according
to studies: they are mainly negative factors in all three types of
events.
Analysis of codes & conventions:
British council estate/social realism
drama within Top Boy (2011-)
Top Boy (2011-) is more associated with the crime drama genre,
but tackles real life issues surrounding British council estates and
social realism such as poverty, mental health and the examination
of socioeconomically-deprived neighbourhoods where crime is
normalised and a way of life (child grooming, drug-dealing, gang
culture, gun/knife crime, antisocial behaviour).

The show is set on the fictional Summerhouse housing estate in

Hackney, East London. Season 1 (2011) focuses on Ra’Nell Smith
(Malcolm Kamulete), a troubled teenager navigating the pitfalls of
living in an economically-deprived, crime-infested environment. His
mother Lisa Smith (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) is usually
headstrong and loving due to being protective of Ra’Nell and the
absence of his father, being a reason for a trigger of his troubles:
this led to Ra’Nell’s being described as volatile and mysterious
around the estate after stabbing his abusive father.

Lisa suffers from mental health episodes, being admitted to a

mental hospital: this is unfortunate for the unlucky Ra’Nell as he
has to fend for himself again while avoiding support from his
secondary school and social workers disguised as a ‘trap’ to him.
Ra’Nell’s circumstances and surroundings cause him to be closed-
up and lost, but he does reluctantly allow Lisa’s friend and their
neighbour Leon (Nicholas Pinnock) to care for him during Lisa’s
absence. The temporary stand-in of a father figure does not
prevent Ra’Nell from dwelling into criminal ways, as he secretly
grows a cannabis crop with his neighbour and Lisa’s friend, the
pregnant Heather (Kierston Wearing).