Research; Social Realism

What is Social Realism?

Social realism is a film genre that focuses on narratives which challenge today's contemporary social issues. The purpose of this genre is to intellect the audience and raise awareness of what is happening in their society. The audience often relate to social realism which makes this genre very popular in the film industry.

What does Socio-Realism Focus on?

This genre often focuses on modern alive issues such as the following:

• Political issues,
• Social class,
• Culture,
• Race,
• Prostitution
• Sexuality
• Drugs

History of Socio-Realism in Britain; Time Line

Rescued by Rover 1905:

The first noticed social realism film was “Rescued by Rover.” the plot of the film is about a nurse looking after a baby whilst a beggar begs the nurse to aid her. The nurse refuses and the beggar snatches the sleeping baby whilst the nurse is distracted by a soldier.

Receiving aid during time was very hard. As there were wars and political issues, lower classed people were unable to receive medical attention they could afford and were a low priority in the community. This often led to lower social class people taking drastic measures such as stealing medication.

The Happy Breed 1944:

This film is based on the status of women in high social class after World War 1. Although women were set to do men jobs during the world war while the men were in the battle. After this everything went back to normal and women were set to be just housewives.

Room at the Top 1959:

This film is based on an ambitious man who has moved to another city working at a poorly paid job. The young man falls in love with an older, unhappily married women but she ends up falling in love with him. After the married women has had a quarrel with her husband, the young man seduces her. The film goes on to show people drinking to avoid their feelings, making drunken passes at the wrong people and being attacked by gangs.

Kes 1965:

The film focuses on a young boy who has little hope in life and is destined to become a coal miner and is bullied both at home, by his physically and verbally abusive half-brother, as well as at school. He is mischievous himself; he steals milk from milk floats, gets other students into trouble and generally fights and misbehaves. Billy comes over as an emotionally neglected boy with little self-respect. Billy's mother refers to him in the film as a "hopeless case". His father is dead.

This film shows the emotional damage caused to an abused child through their behaviour.

Secrets and Lies 1996:

The film tells the story of a successful black optometrist who is adopted. She chooses to trace her family history and discovers that her birth mother is a working class white woman.

The film shows social realism through race. A mother had to give up her daughter because she was black and racial mix was highly forbidden during the time. However, the young black women is very successful which contrasts black people at the time.

Kidulthood 2006:

This film focuses on a group of 15 year olds from a rough area of London. The film shows gangs and bullying. This is portrayed as a serious social realism issues as a young white girl commits suicide after being attacked and bullied by a group of girls from school.

The film shows that teenagers and gangs cause serious issues in society as they are stereotyped today in reality.

Fish Tank 2009:

This film is based on a 15 year old girl who has just moved home with her abusive mother and foul mouthed sister. The girl is a 'loner' and has no friends. Her only escape from her life is through hip hop dance which she practices alone in a deserted home. She meets a young man who is sympathetic towards her.

The film represents social issues through the young girl by the way a young vulnerable girl is taken advantage of by a man.