I've seen this film a number of times over the last few years. The first time I ever saw it, I was an idealistic young scamp who'd done very well at school. Needless to say, I spent the entire film hoping that this desperately intelligent character would pull out of the spiral he'd got himself into.
A bit of personal history, which I don't normally supply, but in this case I believe it's pertinent. My grandfather hails from Pakistan, which is something that should make me despise this film, as Trevor, the main character, constantly harangues a Pakistani shopkeeper called Mr. Shanawaz. However, on repeated viewings I have consistently found this to be one of the best films ever made.
Roth plays a disaffected, supremely intelligent young man called Trevor who knows far more about the world than his "betters" would wish him to. His "betters" are social workers, and those responsible for making sure that he will eventually integrate into the wider British society.
Trevor is unrelenting and has no qualms about describing the society in which he lives. On my first viewing, I was horrified by his racist attitudes and the beliefs he subscribes to. However, the most important part of this film is Trevor's honesty. Honesty, however horrific it is, is Trevor's primary motivation. After watching it again and again, this is what comes through more than anything else. Trevor is uncompromising. He refuses to let society dictate his own opinions, even when that society kicks him and beats him. Trevor almost never misleads people, and practices his mantra almost to the letter. His integrity is never in doubt. Like him or hate him, you will respect the fact that he stands for his beliefs.
Made In Britain is a film about standing up for what you believe in, no matter how extreme those beliefs are. Trevor's beliefs are so compelling that he even convinces a black teenager ( Errol ) to shout "You baboons, get back to the jungle!". It also provides an incisive social commentary on the Britain of 1982. It isn't the integrated melting pot that government would have you believe it is. Following recent racial tension in Oldham and other towns in the North of England, the film's message seems particularly poignant now.
There are very few bad performances in this movie, the notable exception being the female teenagers in the JobCentre. Overall, it is a superb film that should be approached with an open mind - providing a message that all is not well in multi-racial Britain.
A bit of personal history, which I don't normally supply, but in this case I believe it's pertinent. My grandfather hails from Pakistan, which is something that should make me despise this film, as Trevor, the main character, constantly harangues a Pakistani shopkeeper called Mr. Shanawaz. However, on repeated viewings I have consistently found this to be one of the best films ever made.
Roth plays a disaffected, supremely intelligent young man called Trevor who knows far more about the world than his "betters" would wish him to. His "betters" are social workers, and those responsible for making sure that he will eventually integrate into the wider British society.
Trevor is unrelenting and has no qualms about describing the society in which he lives. On my first viewing, I was horrified by his racist attitudes and the beliefs he subscribes to. However, the most important part of this film is Trevor's honesty. Honesty, however horrific it is, is Trevor's primary motivation. After watching it again and again, this is what comes through more than anything else. Trevor is uncompromising. He refuses to let society dictate his own opinions, even when that society kicks him and beats him. Trevor almost never misleads people, and practices his mantra almost to the letter. His integrity is never in doubt. Like him or hate him, you will respect the fact that he stands for his beliefs.
Made In Britain is a film about standing up for what you believe in, no matter how extreme those beliefs are. Trevor's beliefs are so compelling that he even convinces a black teenager ( Errol ) to shout "You baboons, get back to the jungle!". It also provides an incisive social commentary on the Britain of 1982. It isn't the integrated melting pot that government would have you believe it is. Following recent racial tension in Oldham and other towns in the North of England, the film's message seems particularly poignant now.
There are very few bad performances in this movie, the notable exception being the female teenagers in the JobCentre. Overall, it is a superb film that should be approached with an open mind - providing a message that all is not well in multi-racial Britain.