In this episode, Ben and Jack take a close look at Shane Meadows’ This Is England, a film that confronts the complexities of race, identity, and nationalism in 1980s Britain. They unpack how the film depicts the horrors of racism through art - and whether such portrayals are a necessary form of truth-telling, or if they risk exploiting the trauma of those affected.
They delve into the long shadow of Margaret Thatcher, exploring how her policies reshaped northern, working-class communities, and how the film captures the fallout. The episode also shines a light on the film’s female characters, whose presence challenges and deepens the male-dominated narrative, offering much-needed perspective and emotional grounding.
The discussion then turns to the danger of disenfranchised masculinity - how lost, angry young men become vulnerable to radicalisation and draws parallels with the rise of far-right movements today. Have we really learned from the past, or are we repeating it in new forms?
A timely and urgent conversation about history, identity, and the power of film to hold a mirror to society.
Also in this episode: Ben responds to the backlash surrounding his A Minecraft Movie review, and Jack passionately argues why the latest season of The White Lotus isn’t just the best one yet, but a near-flawless piece of television.
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