'Pride' is a movie about solidarity, tolerance and willpower. It tells the story about how two completely different groups of people learn to understand, help and appreciate each other. This is a positive message, and 'Pride' clearly is a feel-good movie.
The film shows how a small group of gays and lesbians from London decide to organize a fund raising campaign for the miners who are on strike against the pit closures ordered by Margaret Thatcher in 1984. They feel the miners are, just like the gay community, victims of police violence and right-wing politics. But they have trouble donating the money: many mining communities don't want to be involved with gay activists. In the end, a small mining community in South Wales accepts the money without realizing where it really comes from. Nevertheless, the Londoners are invited to the mining village, and a mutual bond grows slowly between the two groups. The movie ends with large groups of straight miners joining the Gay Pride march, to thank the gay community for their support.
The confrontation between the two different groups struck me as an example of clever script writing. It offers a range of dramatic effects: the initial distrust being replaced by mutual respect, the comical consequences of the confrontation, the feeling of solidarity created by the fight for a common goal. But at the end of the film, I was surprised to see that the story is in fact based on historical facts. Everything you see, has more or less really happened.
The film is made in the tradition of excellent British political feel-good dramas like 'The Full Monty', 'Brassed Off' and 'Made in Dagenham'. The balance between the serious political message and the light hearted way the story is told is well kept. Although sometimes you get the impression the homophobia would in reality have been a bit stronger in a rural Welsh community in the eighties. And near the end, you get the feeling some of the scenes are emphasizing the positive message a bit too much.
The eighties clothing, hairdos and music are well done and a joy to watch. The title of the film is excellent: Gay Pride meets workers' pride. Overall, this is an enjoyable film about an interesting scrap of British history.
The film shows how a small group of gays and lesbians from London decide to organize a fund raising campaign for the miners who are on strike against the pit closures ordered by Margaret Thatcher in 1984. They feel the miners are, just like the gay community, victims of police violence and right-wing politics. But they have trouble donating the money: many mining communities don't want to be involved with gay activists. In the end, a small mining community in South Wales accepts the money without realizing where it really comes from. Nevertheless, the Londoners are invited to the mining village, and a mutual bond grows slowly between the two groups. The movie ends with large groups of straight miners joining the Gay Pride march, to thank the gay community for their support.
The confrontation between the two different groups struck me as an example of clever script writing. It offers a range of dramatic effects: the initial distrust being replaced by mutual respect, the comical consequences of the confrontation, the feeling of solidarity created by the fight for a common goal. But at the end of the film, I was surprised to see that the story is in fact based on historical facts. Everything you see, has more or less really happened.
The film is made in the tradition of excellent British political feel-good dramas like 'The Full Monty', 'Brassed Off' and 'Made in Dagenham'. The balance between the serious political message and the light hearted way the story is told is well kept. Although sometimes you get the impression the homophobia would in reality have been a bit stronger in a rural Welsh community in the eighties. And near the end, you get the feeling some of the scenes are emphasizing the positive message a bit too much.
The eighties clothing, hairdos and music are well done and a joy to watch. The title of the film is excellent: Gay Pride meets workers' pride. Overall, this is an enjoyable film about an interesting scrap of British history.