this is england

This Is England: is a frightfully moving piece, completely deserving of it's BAFTA Best British film. (spoiler for sure) Knowing about the history of skinheads, how they originally were peaceful, a color blend of black and white, bonded over music and style (a mod breakaway), I sat and just waited to see where the split would happen. This film takes place in 1983, starting with a group of kids that appear to be united because of a social tie, looking alike, creating a separate family. The handmade tattoos were easily overlooked because the kids didn't act out to uphold an racist or Nationalist front. Then the shift came, which was painful.

So many hate groups are fueled by fear and ignorance. An eleven year old's pain from losing his father and not being old enough to understand the political conflict...and the lack of a father figure...is twisted, warped, molded into something ugly. The most painful thing is knowing where this will lead the poor boy and the fact that adults, blind to their own fears, willingly walk this boy down a mean road. At the climax, not only is the child broken from his newly unfounded hatred, but the man that lead him there realises the wrong he has done.

These are the things in life that scare me. Ignorance. Fear. Those who prey on the weak. Spoiled innocence. These are the true evils of our world. People who say they stand for something but when challenged, really have no idea what those principles truly are. Post-election, these are my fears for our President-Elect.

I watched this on Sundance even though it's been in my queue...I will most likely still get it for the making of feature.