studioAT This is a gritty and gripping British film, that was later spun-off into some TV series that never quite lived up to the film that preceded them.It's not an easy watch at times, and the language and violence will put many off, but if you can stay with it you will find some good points on society being made, and some strong acting performances.It wasn't my sort of thing though.

BA_Harrison I'm English. I turned 15 in 1983. It wasn't a great time for me. Taking a trip down memory lane with This Is England didn't seem like a particularly appealing idea, but with director Shane Meadows (Dead Man's Shoes) in charge, I was sure I would be impressed regardless of the subject matter. As I expected, the general atmosphere of the film is bleak and depressing, the disaffected characters spewing anger and hatred. Thankfully, Meadows' superb handling of his material, and his exceptional cast's wonderful performances, make this look back at not-so-great Britain compelling viewing. And somewhere, in amongst all of the violence and emotional turmoil, there is even a faint glimmer of hope.Based on Meadow's own personal experiences growing up in England in the '80s, the film is steeped in realism, the era perfectly recreated in all of its miserable glory. Thomas Turgoose puts in a very impressive turn as central character Shaun, the young schoolboy who falls in with a gang of skinheads, but for me, the standout performance comes from Stephen Graham as bitter ex-con skinhead Combo, a thuggish brute whose own personal issues have made him into a volatile racist prone to explosive outbursts of violence. And yet, despite all of the despicable things he says and does, Graham's character actually warrants a modicum of pity, the bloke clearly a product of his own troubled upbringing — it's a memorably moving performance in another solid film from Meadows.

Rozzi1 Set in a small northern town in 1983 the story follows Shaun, a 13 year old loner who falls in with the local gang of Skinheads, led by warm-hearted Woody. Aside from the unrealistic anti-Falklands sentiment among some of the characters, namely Combo (I don't recall anyone back in 1982 being against the war – except a few Labour MPs – and only several regiments of professional soldiers went to the Falklands not droves of conscripts as the film implies, also it was over in 3 months so had long finished before the film's time line begins) aside from that, the film is brilliant and perfectly captures the essence of youth, disaffected youth, group bonding, and growing up in the early 80s, devoid of any typical TV drama nostalgia getting in the way. It's gritty and realistic in the best form, and director Shane Meadows manages beautifully to inter-lace this with several stylised moments without spoiling the overall tone of social-realism.Loner as Shaun may be, he is also full of courage and spirit beyond his years, and quickly becomes a popular member of the varied bunch of Skins. But when Combo, a much older Skinhead and a violent, psychotic, racist, returns to the town after a 3 year prison term, everything changes for Woody, Shaun and the group. Dividing the gang on racial and political lines, half of the lads and lassies stick to their morals and remain with Woody – while the rest, including Shaun, join Combo and a his racist sidekick Banjo.The complexities of Shaun's decision to join the racist faction of the town's Skinhead scene, is probably be best explained as a post-traumatic reaction to the loss of his father. Having been a soldier, Shaun's father is killed in action during the Falklands war, and so as the film begins so too does Shaun's grief and suffering as he struggles to make sense of the world. Combo and his faction offer Shaun a tougher, more male orientated existence and one which thrives on acts of aggression and violence. It is this environment and behaviour which Shaun needs to help him cope with the grief and the absence of a strong paternal figure. As the story reaches its climax, Shaun reaches his own conclusion about the life around him.An excellent, well written, brilliantly directed and acted, social drama. Highly recommended.

Eddie Quist What can I say, I lived in England from 1982 to 1984, and England was not like this. Lame story, bad acting, the Skinhead characters came across as total W4nkers that you wouldn't want to know in real life. Overall the movie is a dud, not recommended. The scene where the 12 year old hero has a French Kissing festival with the 18 year old "Smell" I found very indecent. I found the social topic about racism within the Skinhead subculture to be a yawn. I cannot for the life of me understand that a movie, which trumpets itself as what England was like in 1983, failed to even mention the Irish Republican Armys Rampage in Englands cities at that time! From what I remember everyone in Britain bemoaned the IRA's campaign of terror, including this subject would of made a much better movie. Don't bother paying the rental fee for this movie.