Contemporary Contemporary British CinemaBritish CinemaHistory and ContextHistory and Context

BackgroundBackground

50’s - 60’s : Britain a major player in world 50’s - 60’s : Britain a major player in world cinema – birth of British Social Realism film style.cinema – birth of British Social Realism film style.

70’s: Hollywood cinema as we know it is born – 70’s: Hollywood cinema as we know it is born – the first films relying heavily on special effects the first films relying heavily on special effects and fantasy films. Star Wars breaks Box Office and fantasy films. Star Wars breaks Box Office records. British cinema struggles to compete records. British cinema struggles to compete commercially. commercially.

1980’s – British Cinema 1980’s – British Cinema RenaissanceRenaissance

Chariots Of Fire (1981)Chariots Of Fire (1981)

A British film that has appeal to an A British film that has appeal to an international audience.international audience.

A British subject made with British actorsA British subject made with British actors

Made with American money.Made with American money.

However…..However…..

Leonard Quart ‘The Religion of the Market’Leonard Quart ‘The Religion of the Market’ “ “Established a general mood that encouraged Established a general mood that encouraged

economic risk taking and experimentation.”economic risk taking and experimentation.”

Peter Wollen ‘The Last New Wave’Peter Wollen ‘The Last New Wave’““Thatcherite Politics provoked in film-makers an Thatcherite Politics provoked in film-makers an

anger that translated artistically into some very anger that translated artistically into some very good films – it can be seen as a British New good films – it can be seen as a British New Wave”Wave”

Why did British film have to Why did British film have to turn to American finance?turn to American finance?

Right Wing EconomicsRight Wing Economics

Film industry as a businessFilm industry as a business Eady Levy scrappedEady Levy scrapped 25% tax break abolished25% tax break abolished NFFC privatisedNFFC privatised

Two types of outputTwo types of output

Films made for the international market often with international finance

Counter culture films made by smaller production companies

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)

A Cultural Identity Crisis?A Cultural Identity Crisis?

Hacker and Price ‘Take 10’Hacker and Price ‘Take 10’““In an attempt to win American finance British producers In an attempt to win American finance British producers

are frightened of anything that might alienate these are frightened of anything that might alienate these investors and are attracted to subject matter that might investors and are attracted to subject matter that might result in Anglo-American content.”result in Anglo-American content.”

Friedman ‘Britain and Thatcherism’Friedman ‘Britain and Thatcherism’““These pictures, often fuelled by the creators disgust with These pictures, often fuelled by the creators disgust with

the current state of British life rank with the best movies the current state of British life rank with the best movies made during the 1980’s”made during the 1980’s”

Then What?Then What?

What is the British Film Industry output What is the British Film Industry output like today?like today?