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Shane Meadows returns with 'This is England'

The 'Dead Man's Shoes' director will draw on his own experiences to examine the rise of the National Front's y

May 13 2005

UPDATE - 'This is England' feature here.

After last year's brilliant, unforgettable 'Dead Man's Shoes', Shane Meadows has announced his next film, a hard-hitting drama that will deal with homegrown racism in the UK.

'Oi! This is England' will be set in the Midlands in the summer of 1983, and tell the tale of an 11-year-old boy who loses his father, shaves his head and falls in with the local division of the National Front.

The uncompromising story will revolve around the race riots that were tearing Thatcher's Britain apart at the time, and Meadows admits that much of it is inspired by his own experiences growing up in Uttoxeter in the early 1980s.

'The pulsing music and the skin-tight fashion, the "fuck the state" attitude and the primal violence left an enormous emotional print on me,' he told Variety. 'I believe this period of my life is the reason I became a filmmaker.'

The 'TwentyFourSeven' director is also calling the project his most overtly political film to date.

Filming is due to start soon, although there's no word yet as to whether Paddy Considine, Meadows' longtime collaborator and sometime writing partner, will play any part in proceedings.

User comments on this story

kieren said...

ENGLAND!!!!!!!!! Posted on May 08 2007 10:26

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stevo said...

i was a skinhead in 83, and notice there wernt any mods portrayed in film. Posted on May 06 2007 15:05

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Shawniee said...

I Just Watched It And Its Absolutly Amazing. . . Its Inspired Me To Write A Song. . . It Rearly Makes Uu Think Aboutt Stuff That Happends Around The World But 'OI THIS IS ENGLAND' x ! Posted on May 06 2007 14:35

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azel7 said...

So, i'm french and i'm waitting for this movie... I'm just disapointed to see how much people trust that skinheads are just some stupid nazi or racist... Skinhead is a way of life, a musical mixt between jamaican music, and punk music. Skinheads aren't nazi, and they never won't be.
Oi! Posted on Apr 30 2007 18:33

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Lex Angel said...

You people are twisted and know nothing about Skinhead culture. You haven't understood the film. People like you are a blight on this country. Skinhead culture has had a proud mixed race heritage since the mid 60's. Do your homework (if you bother going to school). Posted on Apr 30 2007 14:43

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DEAN said...

I LOVE THIS GIRL AT CHAIRES IN TOWN SHE FIT AND THE SKINHEADS ARE COOL PLZ GO OUT WITH ME AND SUCK MY COCK PLZ NO JOKE Posted on Apr 30 2007 11:07

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Deano the 1 pin said...

me mate adman told me about this film and i cant wait to see this film i heard about the bit in the cornershop me mate saw this on pirate cheating cunt!!! Posted on Apr 30 2007 10:56

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dean said...

i love the girl in the chaires shop downtown shes fit but i wish i was going out out with ellie and my m8 adam love this girl called grace. Posted on Apr 30 2007 10:53

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Adman said...

this is a great film love the part in the corner shop and i love the talk and the bit where that blok beats the shit out of that blok in hes bed
safe blud!!! Posted on Apr 30 2007 10:44

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jamie from leeds said...

im 15 years of age This is a completely honest film i would love to get involved in the next that would be cool and dont fuck with the skin heads because we will knock your lights out especially the people who rake but take all the stake paki bastards ........... Posted on Apr 30 2007 01:45

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JAKE said...

YES SKINHEAD WAITING IN THE LANEWAY WAITING FOR THE SUM Posted on Apr 26 2007 15:12

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Lex Angel said...

Some councils around the country are overturning the BBFC's 18 rating to allow teenagers to watch what is a very important film. Posted on Apr 24 2007 14:17

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yasmin said...

"this is England" is coming out APRIL 27th, i read it in the paper and the film has been advertised on film four etc but it's an 18!!!! Posted on Apr 23 2007 16:46

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Tim said...

I was 9 and living in Leicester with my mum and stepdad in 1983 and this film captures my youth, and my feelings at that time. Nice one Shane. Posted on Apr 17 2007 22:44

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Lex Angel said...

There are racist Skinheads of course, but definitely not a majority! Would be a bit stupid, wouldn't it, if the majority were racist, considering the FACT that it's a culture with a mixture of white and black roots? I've been to hundreds of events and met hundreds if not thousands of Skins, and have only met a few racist morons. Posted on Apr 12 2007 12:50

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