This Is England (2006)

Below is the opening sequence of This Is England, a social realist film directed by Shane Meadows.



Plot
The story of This Is England is set in the 80's centres around the main character, Shaun, who is becoming involved in the National Front Movement of that time.  The opening sequence includes clips and iconic features of that era, such as the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, and Margaret Thatcher.  The opening sequence also shows clips of ethnic minorities being discriminated against,a theme that is crucial in the film.

Enigma Codes

During the opening sequence, a number of enigma codes are raised by the audience, thus creating a hook.  The audience wants to know a number of things- why are these clips being shown? Are they of great significance in relation to the film? A photo of a man in uniform is also shown. Who is he? What is his significance? All of these questions are answered during the film, however the initial questioning by the audience draws them in and makes them want to continue watching. 

Character Establishment

It is clear that Shaun is one, if not the main character in This is England.  This is clear to the audience, as he is the only character introduced to us in the opening sequence.  Shaun is represented at young, possibly innocent in this opening sequence, which is often a typical convention of social realist films.  By making the characters seem relatable, the audience can easily empathise with their situations.  Although Shaun is young, it is clear that he has had a tragedy in his life- the loss of his father is clear to the audience, especially with the clips shown before hand and the way Shaun looks at the photograph in his bedroom. 

Location, Location, Location

Through the locations shown in the opening sequence, it is clear that the characters are working class, again a typical convention in films of the social realist genre.  Locations such as Shaun's bedroom, with the chipping wallpaper, show how is family is not wealthy, and therefore can not afford to have more expensive tastes.  The decor of Shaun's room also shows what life was like in that era, and how is differs from today's tastes and opinions.  Through location, Meadows has given the audience a chance to see the past, see how people lived and see how they acted.  Location plays a key part in This Is England, as without the establishment of the era or the surroundings, the events that take place would seem much less 'real' to the audience. 

Editing

Unlike in horror films, where the shots tend to be much quicker to match the speed of events, the pace of cuts in This Is England is a lot slower.  The camera focuses on the photo of the soldier for a an extended period of time, showing it's significance to the audience.  The use of the close-up shot also makes the photo seem more important, rather than if it was a long shot.  The slow pace and simplicity of the editing can be seen through the simple transitions and cuts that have taken place.  There is nothing amazing  or exceptional about the way the shots go from one to the next, but sometimes less is more. 

Iconography

The opening sequence to This Is England contains a lot of iconography.  The vast majority of the opening sequence shows images and clips from the 80's era, all iconic in their own right.  Margaret Thatcher was very popular in the era, and Meadows has used her and other individuals, as well as the culture and fashion of the time, to give the audience a taste of what life was like.  Perhaps most importantly, there is the iconography of the skin heads and the National Front Movement.  This is key in This Is England, as Shaun becomes friends with a group of their supporters. 

Titles

The titles in This Is England follow the conventions of social realist films.  The titles are seen over the footage -overlay- as opposed to in between footage -interlay.  The font is basic, and does not draw the audiences attention away from the footage, and the title of the film itself is the same as the other introductions, such as actors and producers. 


Target Audience
For This Is England, I would say the target audience is 25 to 40 year olds, mainly white males and mainly working class.  This is because this group is more likely to relate and empathise with the characters and their situations.