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).