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Cast: Thomas Turgoose(Shaun), Jo Hartley (Cynth), Stephen Graham (Combo), Joseph Gilgun (Woody), Andrew Shim (Milky)
Written and directed by: Shane Meadows
Release date: May 2007

I had heard that this movie was about the skinhead community in a small British town. I started connecting the dots…skinheads=neo-nazis=> British version of American History X. Happily, I was proved wrong. It ventures into Ken Loach and Mike Leigh territory and comes up with something which is quite original and intimately affecting. This is England is a grittty and strangely tender coming of age story. It is also an authentic exploration of post-punk skinhead culture in rural, working-class Britain.

The year is 1982. England under Margaret Thatcher is engaged in the Falklands war. Shaun is 12-years old and living with his mom. His father died in the war. Now he doesn’t like his school, his house or his locality. It was better when they were with dad. His mother shakes her head in sad agreement. On one day like so many others Shaun is bullied at school. He gets into a fight over a joke made about his dad. On the way back, he meets Woody, the leader of the local skinheads. They are friendly. They dress up in Ben Sherman shirts and Doc Marten boots and while away their time hanging out on street corners or in gloomy cafes. These youngsters are not racists or white supremacists. One of the gang members, Milky is even black. (Subsequently I discovered on Wikipedia that skinheads are spread out over the entire political spectrum from the far left to the far right.)

Suddenly Shaun discovers that he belongs. He obtains the uniform, gets his head shaved. He tries to build his identity by adopting their street swagger and posturing. He gets his first kiss. He participates with reckless abandon in tearing down empty apartments in the afternoons. Their activities sometimes border on juvenile delinquency but can be excused in the name of youthful follies. In fact, this part of the movie soars with a defiant spirit.

But then an older skinhead, Combo returns to join them after three years in prison. And he brings with him notions of white nationalism, hatred and venomous invective. The gang splits up with Woody going his own way and Combo moving dangerously towards the fascist ideology usually associated with bald-headed, tattooed youth. Shaun chooses to stick with Combo. He wants to make his dad proud.

Combo and his troops start with painting abusive graffiti on the walls in migrant localities. Soon, things escalate into ransacking shops and threatening anyone who is brown-skinned. Shaun learns to use the phrase ‘Paki Bastard’ generously, the all-purpose ubiquitous abuse for Asians. Events hurtle towards a violent, cathartic ending.

Just like in the case of most forms of extremism, disenchanted youth proves to be a fertile ground for the propagation of white power politics. They want a reason, they want someone to blame. And such theories provide scapegoats to them on a platter. And propose a simple solution…eliminate the outsiders…

The movie is supposed to be based on the director’s personal experiences. And it shows. He knows and understands these streets, these people. Like most young folk, they want to stand apart from the crowd and at the same time wish to belong to a community of their own. For Shaun, the skinheads fill the void left behind by the loss of his father. They are almost a surrogate family for him. Thomas Turgoose gives an electrifying and plucky performance, tinged with vulnerability. The rest of the young cast, some of them local non-actors slip into their roles effortlessly.

This is England is a stylish movie, with an apt reggae and ska based soundtrack. But the slow motion gimmicks never overpower the story. The performances along with the strong script and the deft direction make this yet another example of exemplary independent British cinema.