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From: The Socialist issue 871, 23 September 2015: Organise to fight cuts

Search site for keywords: TV - Review - Music - Working-class - Riots - Poll tax - Depression - Margaret Thatcher

TV Review

This is England '90

Rudi Abdallah, Waltham Forest Socialist Party, reviews the first episode of This is England '90.

Shane Meadows has produced the final instalment of the riveting drama spin-off from 2006's big screen hit This is England. The euphoria coursing through this episode is epitomised by a heady mix of drugs, friendship, political upheaval and music, especially the Stone Roses.

Optimism

It's the most optimistic offering of the three mini-series. 2010's This is England '86 kept exploring its big screen cousin's harrowing themes. It showed disaffected kids in a monochrome, hope-starved world of a northern, working-class town. This segued into 2011's equally bleak This is England '88, which saw the gang torn apart by treachery and depression.

Now, the scooter boys and skinheads of the previous two series have morphed into (Stone Roses singer) Ian Brown clones clad in baggy regalia and technicolour tops that could give you tinnitus.

Clips of a swaggering Shaun Ryder sit comfortably next to the anti-poll tax riots, embodying perfectly the sense that young people felt empowered, in part by music, to break the Thatcherite shackles of the previous eleven years.

The acting is still impeccable. The impressive Lol (Vicky McClure) jokes alongside fellow dinner lady Kelly (Chanel Cresswell); Gadget (Andrew Ellis) is the same endearing scruff-bag thinking only of his belly ('everybody loves chips!').

Woody (Joe Gilgun), is more relaxed than ever. Only Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) drifts unhappily, making him a lone dark cloud in an otherwise opal sky.

Meadows is a master of conveying mood. The unfamiliar optimism of his new world stems from wider political change, notably Margaret Thatcher's political demise in 1990. Even though the Conservatives retained power until 1997, Meadows wants to show that Thatcher's departure caused a volcanic eruption of joy across northern working-class communities, which sang of new opportunities.

Thatcher resigns

When the gang dance deliriously to 'Fool's Gold' at the Madchester disco, the music opens up a world they feel they can own, whatever it throws at them.

As in 1990, we now have a Conservative government. Seismic political change has occurred which has energised young people, mainly those on the left. Unlike 1990, there is no evident musical movement absorbing and articulating the fountain of hope.

The episode's success lies primarily in the evergreen attraction of rebelling against the establishment. This includes aggravating your parents with a love of long-haired frontmen, drug taking and, most importantly, jumping about to some of the greatest music ever written with your friends.

Thanks to the consistently phenomenal acting, these attractions are presented in a completely natural and sympathetic way.

The three remaining episodes of This is England '90 are shown on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday 20 and 27 September and 4 October

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.