Pride (2014) - Film Review

Starring: Ben Schnetzer, Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy & George MacKay

Screenplay: Stephen Beresford

Directed By: Matthew Warchus

Certificate: 15

 

In the UK, almost everyone is at least aware of the coal miners' strike of 1984-1985. The strikes were some of the largest of the 20th Century, and brought the working classes and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government to clashes. However, while many today at least know of the strikes, very few know of the help and contributions made towards the miners' efforts by the LGBT community. That is until the critically acclaimed Pride came along, a film which received a fifteen minute standing ovation from the audience at Cannes Film Festival, and which retells the inspirational story.

 

Set in the mid-1980s, Pride tells the story of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) campaign, a support group set up by Mark Ashton and dedicated to raising money for the striking miners. The group constantly finds their efforts to help refused by the miners' union, and so go directly to the mining village of Onllwyn in Wales to help. The LGSM members have to overcome prejudice, homophobia and discrimination, but over time, they gradually gain the support of the miners to form an unlikely alliance, not similar to anything seen before.

 

2014 has been a brilliant year for film, but I honestly don't think that any other movie has left me smiling so ridiculously, and left me so full of joy as Pride. The film covers multiple genres – it's a drama, it's a comedy, and even a historical piece (though I can't quite believe I'm calling the 1980s “historical"). It's even based off an inspiring true story – one that should be common knowledge, but really wasn't before the release of this film. But above all, Pride is an incredibly uplifting and funny watch. I guarantee that you'll be smiling or laughing throughout the film, and whenever you're not, you'll be left sympathizing with the struggles the LGSM members have to go through.

 

Despite happening nearly thirty years ago, the story Pride has to tell is worth remembering, and feels just as relevant today as ever. Released at a time where the UK and many other countries feel divided and with an unsettling amount of hate, Pride's message of solidarity is one that's absolutely needed. It may also be worth pointing out that heterosexual viewers won't be isolated from watching: saying Pride is just for audiences who are gay, is about as accurate as saying the upcoming Selma is just for audiences who are black. Pride doesn't paint its conflicts in purely black or white terms either, and while the characters in the film undoubtedly tolerate a lot of homophobic abuse, over time there's a great many characters who undergo change. For example, one of my favourite scenes takes place when a group of miners are unlawfully arrested by the police for protesting. Sian is able to have them released after being told what to do by Jonathan, and the miners celebrate in the community centre. When the miners learn how they were released, one of them goes over to the LGSM members, and we think he's about to start a fight... only to shake Mark's hand and offer him a pint. It's a wonderfully understated moment of overcoming irrational hate, and exactly the kind of thing I'd hoped to see from the film.

 

LGSM's founder Mark Ashton is done tremendous justice through a combination of fantastic scriptwriting from Stephen Beresford, and a powerful, dedicated performance from Ben Schnetzer. Ben Schnetzer is seriously impressive in the role, and Mark's dedication to his cause is abundantly clear. Mark further makes for an endearing screen presence, with one of his first scenes in the film going something like this:

 

“I've spoken to the council about your deviant parties.”

“There's no need to do that, knock on the door and we'd let you in.”

“They're sending a policeman!”

“Oh I do hope so!”

 

How could you not automatically like this guy? Mark is backed up by some great supporting figures in LGSM, including Steph, a character Faye Marsay shapes into someone likeable and grounded, while Dominic West excels as Jonathan. George MacKay also stars as Joe or “Bromley”, one of the few fictional characters here, but he acts as a much-needed and relatable bridge between LGSM and the audience.

 

The miners and Women's Support Group members make for just as compelling and enjoyable characters as those in LGSM. Imelda Staunton pretty much steals the show as Hefina, and is easily the funniest character in the film. She's a fantastic matriarch, strong in her convictions and not to be trifled with: “Get over there and find a gay or a lesbian right now. I've seen you dancing around my backyard with no clothes on since you were this high, and I can tell you right now, these gays have thrown better away! Now move!”. Paddy Considine is a likeable and sensible figure as Dai, as is Bill Nighy, who is of course fantastic as the shy, quiet yet strong David (David also gets an incredibly touching and moving scene with Hefina towards the end of the film). Jessica Gunning also deserves praise as Sian, who like Hefina, is incredibly likeable but still isn't to be messed with, perhaps even more so.

 

As much as I love this film, and while it is near-perfect in its execution, there are one or two issues on a scriptwriting level that may briefly pull you out of the experience. About ¾ of the way through the film, there comes a time where LGSM seems to have failed after their help is rejected, and Mark ends up alienating himself from the group in fear of being infected with HIV. While I now know why Mark isolated himself, it took a great many watches before I did understand, as it was poorly explained. Also, there's a couple of times where the community centre breaks out in song. Now I didn't mind this when Jonathan broke out in dance to Shame, Shame, Shame, as that did something to advance the plot (not to mention, Dominic West completely owned that scene). However, when the rest of the centre later spontaneously starts singing Bread & Roses – it is admittedly a beautiful scene, but just feels somewhat out of place. Last of all, Pride does depict LGSM's splinter group Lesbians Against Pit Closures (LAPC). Now I don't claim to know a thing about LAPC (I didn't know that either group even existed before watching), but from what I hear, their depiction in Pride is little short of an uncalled for parody. It certainly seems that way, as the women in the group often find themselves the butt of many jokes.

 

But these are just minor issues in an utterly fantastic film. While Pride may be heavy-handed in its themes and the way it approaches them, it's 2014 and irrational hatred and homophobia still exist – the film has every right to be heavy-handed. Pride is one of the best films of the year, full of hilarity, passion, love and life – it's a completely joyous watch fully deserving of the standing ovation it received. There's a good chance you've not yet watched it, and if so, take my advice and watch it. It's the type of film that can rekindle your faith in humanity again.

Pride



9/10