by Leah Stone
LGBT+ films have become a lot more prominent in recent years. Previously, they never got a look-in when it came to award nominations and the press tended to shy away from them, not giving them as much publicity as they deserved.
However, things have been changing. As the film industry churn out more and more brilliant LGBT+ themed films, critics and film organisations can’t help but take notice. The kids are All Right (2010) won two Golden Globes, Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013) won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA and Dallas Buyers Club (2013) won three Academy Awards and Two Golden Globes. Most recently, Pride won the BAFTA award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director of Producer and BIFA acting awards for Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton.
LGBT+ films have become a lot more prominent in recent years. Previously, they never got a look-in when it came to award nominations and the press tended to shy away from them, not giving them as much publicity as they deserved.
However, things have been changing. As the film industry churn out more and more brilliant LGBT+ themed films, critics and film organisations can’t help but take notice. The kids are All Right (2010) won two Golden Globes, Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013) won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA and Dallas Buyers Club (2013) won three Academy Awards and Two Golden Globes. Most recently, Pride won the BAFTA award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director of Producer and BIFA acting awards for Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton.
Pride is an utterly brilliant British LGBT+ related historical comedy-drama film. It is based on the true story of a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised large amounts of money to help the families of the striking miners during the British miners’ strike in 1984. Since The National Union of Mineworkers were originally sceptical and reluctant to accept group’s support, they instead gave all of their donations to Onllwyn, a small Welsh mining village. It created an alliance that no one expected, one that had never been seen before which eventually won the support of the whole mining community.
Matthew Warchus did a stunning job as director and David Livingston and Stephen Beresford certainly deserved their BAFTA win. Pride has an extremely humorous and utterly enthralling plot, jumping between the activism on the streets of London and humbling heart-warming scenes of friendship in Onllwyn. It is utterly uplifting and you can’t help coming away with a spring in your step, singing I Want to Break Free at the top of your voice.
In fact, the whole soundtrack is brilliant. With hits from the likes of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys, Joy Division and Bananarama (to name just a few) your feet jig and your head bobs throughout. You just can’t help it.
Matthew Warchus did a stunning job as director and David Livingston and Stephen Beresford certainly deserved their BAFTA win. Pride has an extremely humorous and utterly enthralling plot, jumping between the activism on the streets of London and humbling heart-warming scenes of friendship in Onllwyn. It is utterly uplifting and you can’t help coming away with a spring in your step, singing I Want to Break Free at the top of your voice.
In fact, the whole soundtrack is brilliant. With hits from the likes of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys, Joy Division and Bananarama (to name just a few) your feet jig and your head bobs throughout. You just can’t help it.
The film is also blessed with a fantastic cast. George MacKay plays Joe, a young lad that starts of timidly marching in the London pride parade, who ends the film having become independent, shrugging off the objections of his parents to take "pride" in himself. Ben Schnetzer is the loud and proud Mark Ashton, who thinks that anyone who is victimised by Thatcher and her government, deserve help. He, along with Joe and their fellow members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (including Andrew Scott, Dominic West and Jessie Cave) head to Onllwyn.
Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton also make appearances and their characters really rather different because of their location but you can't help but feel instantly warm to them. Hefina (Staunton) is the lovely mother-figure that does what she can to take care of those she loves, whilst Cliff (Nighy) is quiet and shy, and he struggles to voice his feelings and opinions until he learns to overcome his fears.
It’s hard to not love this film. With its effervescent humour (“we’re just off to Swansea for a massive les-off!”) its relatable characters and a stunning plot that ultimately gets rights to the centre of activism and what it was like to be a miner or lesbian/gay in the 1980’s, you really can’t say no to this thoroughly enjoyable piece of magic.
Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton also make appearances and their characters really rather different because of their location but you can't help but feel instantly warm to them. Hefina (Staunton) is the lovely mother-figure that does what she can to take care of those she loves, whilst Cliff (Nighy) is quiet and shy, and he struggles to voice his feelings and opinions until he learns to overcome his fears.
It’s hard to not love this film. With its effervescent humour (“we’re just off to Swansea for a massive les-off!”) its relatable characters and a stunning plot that ultimately gets rights to the centre of activism and what it was like to be a miner or lesbian/gay in the 1980’s, you really can’t say no to this thoroughly enjoyable piece of magic.
What Do You Think?
Is Pride a Hit Play?
Or are you do you say Hit Stop?
Pride is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now
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