British directors portraying Britain?

Question: British directors portraying Britain!?

Why do British directors show Britain or England in a bad light in lots of their films!? e!.g!. Shane Meadows, Ken LoachWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I can only assume that they are viewing the bad aspects of the British Empire!.

In Ken Loach's "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" the struggle for Irish nationalism against an intolerant British Empire!.

Shane Meadows, "This Is England" which portrays the early 1980's skinheads, which was a reaction to the immigration in the previous decades of people from the former British Empire, and the racism that rose up against them!.

England is not a bad place, and now that they no longer Lord over an empire, they are quite tolerant and accepting!. But sometimes one needs to be reminded of the past, so as not to make the same mistakes in the future!.
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Loach and those who like his style would not believe that he is negative, but 'realistic', or 'gritty realism'!.

Of Shane Meadows' films I've only seen "A Room for Romeo Brass"!. I hated it and thought it very much contrived!.

You could also add singular examples such as Danny Boyle's directed "Trainspotting" and Paul McGuigan's "The Acid House" which both show a 'gritty' version of Scotland, and Dominic Savage who wrote and directed "Born Equal" who's treatment of English homeless is also bleak!. Check out Andrew Jones' "Teenage Wasteland" set in Wales!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This is a cyclical phenomenon!. The winds of fashion dictate how Britain is to be portrayed in films!.The cycle is about 50 years!. To see the other side, see most British films between 1919-1950!. Www@QuestionHome@Com