Use of themes in British Social Realism.

What is the link between British Social Realism themes and the real world?

The link found between British Social Realism themes and the real world is that the themes used are a reflection of situations and events that occur in the real world. For example, according to BBC News - in August 2011 a toddler died from a methadone overdose that could only have been prevented if he was taken into care because his parents used this drug to sedate him when he was grisly (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19478883). This story that occurred in the real world reflects some of the themes British Social Realist films use, such as; domestic abuse, drugs, childhood, parenthood, dysfunctional families and drug abuse. Fish Tank, is an example of a  British Social Realist film that uses the themes of domestic abuse, childhood, parenthood and dysfunctional families. We see domestic abuse in this film as we see the eldest daughters mum slap her in the face and pinch her for no apparent reason, we also see the themes of childhood and parenthood as we watch the two daughters in a fragment of their childhood and how they live and we see how their mum as a single parent decides to take on parenthood, through a dysfunctional manner which is how we see the theme of a dysfunctional family.



The theme of drug abuse is also apparent in many British Social Realism films, for example in Trainspotting, drugs are abused.



What is unique about how themes are explored in British Social Realism films?

Themes are explored in a unique way in British Social Realist films, as they are portrayed in a very explicit, grim and nasty way. The themes are not made to look any better or worse than what they really are in the real world, but they are a reflection of the actual theme from the real world in a film where the narrative may be fictional but the themes are being portrayed exactly how they would  be in the real world. For example, In the British Social Realism film 'Looking For Eric' , numerous themes are displayed like; dysfunctional families and isolation are displayed. The dysfunctional families theme is shown through the sound as the main character says his 'wife refuses to talk to him' and 'me kids wont give the time of day', this shows that his family is all over the place and don't communicate. The fat that his wife or kids don't bother with him leaves me with a further connotation that he may be left feeling quite isolated. Isolation is another common theme shown in British Social Realism films. According to a graph published by The Guardian, divorce rates in 1930 were really low and over the years has increased, in 1985 the divorce rate was at its highest. Over time it has slowly decreased. But these divorce rates have increased since the 1930's because of these dysfunctional families.
 

Is there any themes which are essential to all British social realist films? What are they? Why are they essential?

There are quite a few themes that are essential to British Social Realist films. These essential themes are; dysfunctional families, violence, childhood, aspiration and escape, corruption of youth and unemployment. These themes are all essential to British social realist films because they are some of the main issues within society in the real world. So the production companies who produce these British Social Realist films try to portray the essential issues in real society and make them themes in these themes.