Pride (15)
Director – Matthew Warchus
Starring – Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott,
Paddy Considine
Runtime – 120 minutes
ONE of the most prominent events in British history, the miners’ strike of 1984-1985, has been touched upon in films such as Billy Elliot (2000) but there has never really been a feature film that delves into those events quite like Pride.
Here we have the true story of a group of gay and lesbian activists who decided to show solidarity with the striking miners by raising money to support them and their families. The unions were hesitant to accept their help but a random phone call changed everything and the film documents how attitudes were changed and relationships forged.
The cast is a who’s who of British acting. In particular, Dominic West is a revelation as a flamboyant actor whose dance moves impress a small Welsh village. One moment he makes the audience laugh out loud, then the next he breaks their hearts.
Likewise, Paddy Considine, as a much more subdued character than his usual roles, brilliantly plays the spokesman stuck between the miners and the gay activists.
But it’s the lesser known actors who are at the heart of the movie. Notably Ben Schnetzer and Jessica Gunning are wonderful to watch as group leader Mark, and Miner’s wife Sian, respectively.
The film manages to be emotionally uplifting without being overly sentimental.
The audience is constantly reminded that for every laugh, there is a tear and vice versa.
There is the hint of a political message but that is unavoidable due to the period the film is set in. The director, Matthew Warchus, handles the material delicately but still manages to convey a powerful message.
This is one of the best British films of the last few years and it will leave viewers educated as well as entertained.
Pride is released on the 12th September 2014.
