British Film Forever (TV Mini Series) Hardship, Humour and Heroes: The Story of British Realism (2007) User Reviews

Acceptable, Could Have Been Better

[mackjay2 · 7/10 · 11 March 2010]

A fairly decent look at the most interesting period in British Cinema: late 50-late 70s. Important film makers like Lindsay Anderson, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, Alan Clarke and others are discussed in some detail and numerous clips are provided. But the early part of the period is short-changed: only one brief shot from THIS SPORTING LIFE, nothing at all about LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, for examples. At least one glaring inaccuracy: FLAME IN THE STREETS (1961) was not the first British film to deal with interracial romance, what about POOL OF London (1951)? A crime film, but it still presents the subject openly and Earl Cameron--who appears briefly for a comment--is featured in both films! The documentary jumps around too much chronologically and it may be confusing for newcomers. The narrator is often annoying in her dismissive tone. Why must earlier British films always be disparaged and stereotyped? There were many good films before the New Wave/Kitchen Sinkers came along.