This Is England Close-Up (Opening Sequence)

Overview

The opening sequence of This is England (Shane Meadows, 2007) is a montage that establishes the setting and time period, the Midlands in 1983, while also showcasing the UK’s social issues and pop culture of the time. It opens with a montage made up of documentary newsreel footage accompanied by a soul soundtrack, before transitioning into linear editing that introduces the protagonist, Shaun. The sequence sets the stage for the film’s exploration of the skinhead subculture and its evolution into a racially divided movement.

Ideological Analysis: Anti-Nationalist

The opening sequence of This is England introduces the anti-nationalist ideological critical approach that the film adheres to. Meadows uses a montage of UK issues and pop culture to highlight the economic and social issues of the time. The use of soul music, a genre rooted in African American culture, creates a juxtaposition with the violent imagery on screen, highlighting the inherent contradictions in the skinhead movement. The skinhead counter-culture is shown to be heavily influenced by reggae music, which further emphasizes the subculture’s appropriation of black culture.

The opening montage draws particular attention to the Margaret Thatcher government and the rise of far-right politics in England. This included groups such as the National Front, a political party known for its racist rhetoric and violent actions, briefly displayed in the opening montage. The montage also showcases working-class resentment towards Thatcher and her controversial policies, involving the embrace of capitalism and shutting down coal mines. The montage’s display of the Iranian embassy hostage crisis and the British government’s decision to send in the SAS highlights the brutality of the time period.

Meadows’ intentions are to critique the nationalism and xenophobia of the skinhead movement. The juxtaposition of racially-driven violence with African American music challenges the skinheads’ claim to being a British nationalist movement. The effect on the audience is to question the validity of the skinheads’ ideology and to create an emotional distance from the characters.

Narrative Analysis

The opening sequence of This is England exemplifies the film’s linear narrative structure. The use of montage and documentary newsreel footage creates a sense of historical context and setting that is important to understanding the film’s story and characters. The linear editing that follows introduces the protagonist, Shaun, and establishes his life as a consequence of the events depicted in the opening montage. Meadows’ intention is to create a sense of cause-and-effect that underpins the film’s narrative structure. In effect, this creates a sense of inevitability and to emphasise the role of history in shaping the lives of the characters. The use of music and imagery in the opening sequence also foreshadows the conflicts and divisions that will drive the film’s narrative forward.