GW 2007 Film of the Year: This Is England

Shane Meadow semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age story about a disillusioned youth during the turbulent Thatcher years in England. Shaun Fields is a young loner who recently lost his father in the Falklands War. He finds kinship in a group of reggae-loving punks who consider themselves "skinheads." All is fun and great when another type of skinhead, Combo, comes into the picture with virulent racism at hand. Fresh out of jail, Combo cites South Asian immigrants for taking away jobs from "good Englsihmen" like himself. Shaun quickly gravitates to Combo as a father figure, and makes disturbing life decisions. "This Is England" is a story that goes beyond race and economics that is worth checking out.