Pride

A fabulously rich movie with a superb mix of talent relating the victories of human relationships over and above the overwhelming power of political ideology in partnership with business.

Bill Nighy plays a beautifully understated, quiet and thoughtful role in contrast to the ebullient Imelda Staunton, matriarchal doyenne of the small Welsh mining town that is the focus for solidarity expressed by LGSM. Paddy Considine as Dai is the somewhat unwitting emissary who meets with the group in London and speaks powerfully and clearly to the community there and to the rather more conservative community in his home town as to the nature of solidarity. Much humour is placed in the two cultures coming together and throughout there are themes of coming out, for both communities; the subtle and insidious nature of discrimination, the hegemonic control it exerts when backed by powerful media presentation, the opportunism of the bitter and resentful, and the damage that is wrought upon families and communities when work is alienated from the individuals identity. Jessie Cave, Ben Schnetzer, Sophie Evans, George Mackay and Freddie Fox all perform keenly and will have done their rising stars no harm here. Not sure how this film will travel internationally, a bit parochial, but then I thought the same about Billy Elliott and that seems to have done OK.

Culturally the film is a trip down memory lane, the music, the politics, the clothing and decor all take me back to 1984, the year of my eighteenth birthday, when my father was one of those striking miners, my mother and the other mothers ran the kitchen in the local church hall. Hence my bias, there is much in this film that is intensely personal.but even if this were not the case, I would still recommend the artistry of this movie and it's passion to anyone.

PRIDE commemorates the hitherto unremarked but nevertheless remarkable alliance between Welsh miners and London lesbians and gay men. It is an enjoyable, well-made, sometimes uplifting, movie set in a bleak period of British history. It is a political film, in the best sense: it's about people joining together to take control of their own destinies, a theme which has a long history in UK cinema, going back at least to the fantasy of PASSPORT TO PIMLICO (1949) to the based-on-fact MADE IN DAGENHAM (2010).

It is well-scripted, beautifully directed, skillfully and enjoyably acted. I have one niggle. Not so much with this film in particular, but rather with all those setting out to please a mass-audience whilst also trying to deal with serious issues. The times in which PRIDE is set were very dark, but I don't know that a mainstream movie can make it clear for those that weren't there just how dark they were. The film goes some way to showing it, but it can't really plumb the depths because - well, mainstream movies can't and still stay in the mainstream. It's a dilemma that affects many Hollywood comedies set in the Great Depression, even those, like MY MAN GODFREY (1936) for example, that were made at the time.

Still, PRIDE manages by and large to transcend such difficulties. It is a life-enhancing piece of cinema, which could and should reach a wide audience.

If you don't laugh, don't shed a tear, or don't want to get up and cheer at the end, then you weren't paying attention during this movie. Based on a true story, this is a film about how two unlikely groups came together in the troubling times of the early 80s in the U.K., but in addition to that, there are a lot of side stories that occur at the same time. Excellent character development (especially after the first 20 minutes), which is critical for a based-on-true-life film. The acting is superb. Listen carefully for the deadpan humor the British are known for: especially if you're not used to London and Welsh accents. Highly recommend this movie to anyone who needs a lift and a reminder that *people are good.*

I saw this yesterday at a preview and was particularly impressed by the amazing production values shown in this film, as well as the powerful warmth of the ensemble cast within this. Many stand out, to the point where everyone stands out. My personal favourite performances are probably Dominic West's because of his wonderful energy, fantastic delivery and that the fact that he was playing a gay men (and was significantly less creepy than his Fred West performance) and Jessica Gunning's who played her play with such warmth and fire. That said, Staunton, Nighty and Schnetzer et all had some determination as well, it really is that not to want to give individual props to all.

British humour tends to be our best selling point and this film lays bare just how raw and witty we can be in our dialogue when handling such powerful drama. That said, the film is a very difficult viewing experience, in my eyes. The Miners Strike alone is a very raw and sad event for all to see, especially when there will be absolutely no surprises as to the outcome. On top of this there is a plethora of tragic LGBT issues that further hit the viewer like a fist throughout, be it a family not accepting their gay son, the Miners' refusal to fully support the LBGT community when the going gets tougher (the bleakness of those scenes are particularly devastating), the start of AIDS and the knowledge that these men's lives will never be the same, the occasional violence shown to the gay men… the list really does go on. The fact that there is a strong undercurrent of humour throughout is particularly needed and welcomed, although towards the end it proves hard to laugh at. Many look back to the 80s with total joy, but for many people, they were uncertain, intensely painful years to survive in. This movie is a tribute to them, and the cast and crew provide their joie de vivre with an open, pulsating heart.

Watch this preparing to feel a wide variety of emotions. Not all settling.

Just been to the avant-premiere in Paris: The movie is absolutely magical. Not to oversell it, but it's a must-see. It's funny but very moving, with a perfect blend of "comedy" and seriousness (because these were dark times, both for the miners and the gay community). The dialogues are really good, well though-out, and delivered convincingly by a stellar cast, who are always believable in their roles.

It's not just "good for an indie gay movie" - it's an incredibly powerful movie that ranks right up with the best of them this year (and with stars such as Bill Nighy and Imelda Satunton, and a probably fair budget, it doesn't have an "amateur" / "indie" feel at all either).

Anyway, worth the price of admission (unlike, unfortunately, so many movies these days...)