Pride

Pride is a feel good comedy drama that Britain seems to churn out rather effortlessly . Set at the height of the 1980s Miners' strike , it's a bit of whimsy based on the true story of  a group of gay activists who pick a small Welsh mining community to support when the trade union action takes hold. 
And so we have flamboyant gays meeting Welsh small minded ness , with the gays winning over the locals with feats of disco dancing warmth, advice on fashion and the the obligatory gay bashing bigot ruining the Kids From Fame feel with speeches on Sodom  and Gomorrah .
Interestingly enough amid the sentimentality ( and there is a great deal of sentimentality) there are subplots galore which centre upon, Aids, coming out, and family dynamics  and wisely director Mathew Warchus does not shy away from sex and the fickle nature of gay life in the 1980s but covers everything we see in so much warmth...you can't help but enjoy the ride..even though that much of the narrative is terribly heavy handed
It's a sweet film....and one which is elevated by some sweet performances from the likes of Dominic West ( as a faded actor with some sharp dance moves) paddy Considine ( as a miners' leader who embraces the gay activists ) and Imelda Staunton as Welsh matron who proudly informs local bigots that she's off to Swansea for a " les-off"......
Yes  all sweet fun!
I dare anyone not to watch the film without gently smiling to themselves ...mind you the scenes where the miner's wives sing " Bread & roses" as a sign of defiance against Thatcher's government and when ostracized  Welsh gay bookshop owner Gethin ( Andrew Scott) hears a gentle " nadolig Llawen ( Happy Christmas  in Welsh) from a friendly mother are dreadfully moving to watch and had me snuffling into my hankie
8/10

26 comments:

  1. I am rather jaded after night shift, a few hours sleep so if you want to read a better review
    See ray's
    http://raybeard.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/film-pride.html

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    1. Thanks so much, JG, but don't do yourself down. Yours is a plainer, straight-from-the-heart view and easy to read.
      However, I had wondered whether I ought to have mentioned that collective sing-along in the club which, I'm afraid, brought out the cringes in me.
      As I said in my own piece, I'm astonished that I recall nothing about this episode in the news at the time so in that respect this film was an education for me, as I'm sure it will be for many more
      An unusual, sincere, film - and what's wrong with a little bit of cheese now and again?

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    2. It was in the Pink Paper

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    3. I avidly read 'The Pink Paper' around then, so I can only guess it happened during one of my many visits to the continent. Anyway, I'm wiser now.

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  2. Sounds excellent. I'll see if Netflix has it.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. It's in my Saved section on Netflix. Thanks for the heads up.

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  3. We are looking forward to seeing it! Sounds sweet.

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  4. Sounds rather like 'Rent', which I saw with my youngest twice in NYC in it's long run.
    Hopefully I can find it, sounds excellent.
    I found working nights difficult, even in my prime. It was always after working the day though.

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  5. I'll see anything with Andrew Scott!
    Jane x

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  6. Anonymous1:30 am

    It sounds terrific. I hope we get to see it. I am pleased you judge that in the twenty teens, gay life is not fickle.

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  7. I hope Netflix has it.
    It sounds along the line of Kinky Boots and possibly Brasses Off (?) don't know if I have the titles right.
    It sounds terrific.

    cheers, parsnip

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  8. I adore Imelda. I have a difficult time seeing movies 'set in the '80s', but I'll give it a go, because I trust your taste, John! Oh I have a copy of "Pan's Labyrinth" borrowed from my son. Whoo hooo! Guess what I'll be watching tomorrow?

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  9. Would like to see Dominic West's dance moves.

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  10. I will look for it on Amazon or Netflix. I always trust your reviews.

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  11. Hey, I'm seeing this movie tomorrow night with a buncha lesbo pals here in Edmonton! Looking forward to it!

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  12. Imelda Staunton hasn't really put a foot wrong. I loved her in Peter's Friends, and Nanny McFee.

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  13. I've been very curious about this movie, so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. I will definitely see it at some point!

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  14. I hear that the original group more or less used a pin in a map to decide who to support, and were surprised at the gratitude shown by all those beefy, macho miners.

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    1. It was also news to me that the whole collection of South Wales miner groups came on mass to the 1985 gay pride march....

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    2. Yes - how heart-warming was that?!

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  15. That sounds like a brilliant watch, I'll look out for it.

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  16. I loved the film. I laughed a lot and wept a little. Excellent fare for a damp Monday night in Roanne, France (6 of us in the cinema!)

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  17. Bread and Roses, darling

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  18. A very entertaining, thought-provoking and heart-warming film, whether you're gay, straight, Welsh, English, political, non-political or whatever. If you haven't seen it, give it a go!

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  19. We watched the movie in downtown Toronto with a mixed audience, who all applauded at the end! It was definitely a feel good movie.

    I was not aware of any of this story. It's interesting that it was news to you about miners' support of the '85 Gay Pride parade. Maybe there was not much publicity around the whole thing? It was also interesting to read at the end that the Labour party was subsequently able to pass its platform of non-discrimination against gays, after failing to do so in the past due to the objections of the miners' union.

    I admit I teared up mightily at the scene where Gethin says hello to his mother for the first time.

    Also, Ben Schnetzer reminded me of Adam Lambert.

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