A film which is "representative of real life" with all its issues and portrays British "everyday characters usually from a working class background" according to Michelle Strotzykow (2008) can be described as a British social realist film. One prime example of a film which achieves the objectives of a British social realist film is 'Fish Tank' (2009). Written and directed by the successful star Andrea Arnold, 'Fish Tank' explores the life of a troubled 15 year old teenager named 'Mia' who indulges in the life living in around the council estate in a working class society (most clips are filmed in Barking, Havering, Tower Hamlet).
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| Mia - Protagonist is denoted here dancing. |
One way we can outline this film as a British social realist film is by the use of the mise-en-scene. The protagonist (named Mia) is evidently represented as a deprived teenager just by the grey tracksuit costume that can be denoted she is wearing in the film clip. This signifies that she comes from a working class background and is deeply rooted to the urban culture of life. In addition to this, by the use of ambient lighting it signifies that the harsh reality in these deprived areas. Like most British social realist films represent, it clearly gives us a gritty side to Britain that is not so fortunate and upbeat.
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| Tyler and her friend smoking and drinking. |
Another way 'Fish Tank' sumbits to the British social realism genre is by the use of the props. A clear example is shown by Mia's sister, Tyler (played by Rebecca Griffiths) who is denoted to be freely smoking a cigarette with a little girl. Arnold uses this scene to connote to the audience the social issues, whereby, children are not being nurtured and cared for by their parents properly in a working class area, thus, becoming rebellious and unsafe. This is further emphasised by the rough location the two girls are drinking and smoking where we can denote: torn wallpaper, small confined room which connotes that they are rebellious and poor. This is very typical of a British social realist film as it conveys the social hardships of people coming from a proletarian background.
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| Mia's "party" fanatic mother |
The music, sound effects & dialogue also plays a key significance into setting out the conventions of a social realist film. By the use of dialogue, as the protagonist's mum (Joanne) tells Mia "I don't know what's wrong with you!" and she replies "you're what's wrong with me", it signifies that a mother and daughter in a working class society are usually turbulent. Therefore, it conforms to a british social realist film as it's representing a typical everyday conflicts that working class individuals face on a daily routine. The ambient sounds of teenagers playing football and the sound of police sirens also in the background noise adds to this sense of everyday aggression as it signifies to the audience the working class "chaotic" type of lifestyle.
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| Mia, dancing to some urban music. |
Similarly, the camerawork & editing is important for establishing to the audience, the gritty and authentic reality of British life. An obvious example is the long shot of the protagonist drinking from the tap which signifies that her living accomodations are poor and harsh. This is a typical convention of a British social realist film as it portrays less fortunate individuals as living in poverty. The handheld camera movement adds to this feel, for example, when she is jumping over the fence to get into her house which signifies that she isn't well off but has to continue with her unpleasant lifestyle.
The long take of Joanne (Mia's single parent mother) casually having sex with her boyfriend connotes that she is promiscuous and sets out the stereotype that working class mothers are more concerned about their love life than setting out the duty as a responsible mother. This is typically dealing out an issue in the film concerning society where it sets out public awareness of the unsatifactory conditions where children may be grown into (in a working class community).
As well as the camera work and editing conforming to the conventions of a British social realist film in 'Fish Tank', the themes and situations evidently do so too. Fish tank succesfully complys to the British social genre as it uses the "kitchen sink" ideology (meaning that every gritty details is left in the film to create a verisimilatude). Domestic abuse is a clear example shown as 'Connor' who is Joanne's boyfriend beats her when he finds out that Mia has been causing upset to her mother. This represents the grim treatment working class individuals face, everyday. Therefore, it conforms to a British social realist film.
Overall, Fish Tank (2009) is one of the most notable, successful British social realist films produced. It has followed all the conventions of the typical genre and has been able to allocate enough funds by the BBC Films and the UK film council to get an American distributer named IFC films (an independant American film channel) to promote the film. As of June 2010, globally, it has made nearly two million in revenue. It appeals to a majority of middle class individuals with a well educated background who want to understand more about the "real British lifestyle".
We can see this by the mise-en scene; sound; camera and editing; representations and themes & situations. One way we can see the gritty real working class lifestyle by the themes and situations is when Mia gets abused by a group of men when she is found to be intruding on private property which signifies her as chaotic. By the mise en scene of the wild-dog character (which chases Mia), it connotes that rough and full of tough experiences in Britain. By the sound perspective of the music coming from her cd player, it represents her as an outcast of society and by the use of a close up of her legs walking with a bag full of cds and a hammer it connotes her wild side to being raised in Britain. Therefore, all these elements meet the requirements of a British social realist film as it represents what's happening in real life.
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