Shane Meadows captures the epoch of the 80s Britain like no other director. I have never seen the 80s captured in such detail; its not just the characters and political references, but the very small details like curtains, blankets etc. Check the shots of the flat blocks, brings a chill to my spine as its so nostalgic. There is a lot of production value in the sets as well as iexcellent actors performances. He has moved British cinema forward in the vein of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Irvine Welsh etc. America has indie cinema and Britain has the melodrama I guess; two very different styles but both focusing on family and social relations predominantly. The This is England series deals with two of the most difficult themes you could possibly imagine but does it brilliantly. I think what marks his work above other directors is the sheer brutal force he approaches the subject matter, and the emotional attachment he develops between the audience and his characters simultaneously. This is a monumental achievement and cant remember another show which moved me to the extent this one did, which had led me to write my first review here on IMDb
Review of This Is England '86
