The document discusses conventions of social realism films. It notes that protagonists typically have direct links to social problems depicted in the films. Narratives often involve protagonists getting caught in dangerous situations and document their journey. Characters are usually surrounded by others facing the same problems and the protagonist wants to change their life. Examples discussed include Sweet Sixteen, This is England, and Half Nelson. Clips shown emphasize diegetic sound, gritty locations, and depictions of working class life.

1. Conventions of Social
Realism
Riley Wright

2. General Conventions
• Protagonist has a direct link to the social problem being represented
in the film.
• Reflects the problems in society e.g. Drug abuse, Violence,
Homelessness.
• Lots of diegetic sound and music, sometimes see a non-diegetic music
used as a time transition.
• Handheld or Low quality cameras are sometimes used to create the
effect of realism and that the events are being documented by
someone there.

3. Narrative Conventions
• Protagonist gets caught in a dangerous or life changing situation.
• Rags to riches* plot is sometimes used (Angels’ Share, Sweet Sixteen).
• The film documents the journey that revolves around the equilibrium.
• Usually a dangerous or influential anti-hero who has strong ties with
the protagonist.
*This is a conventional plot in all film genres which consists of the main protagonist being
poor or deprived of something and the film documenting the journey between this state to
a state of success and riches.

4. Character Conventions
• The Protagonist is surrounded by people all with the same problem
which he has.
• The Protagonist is the one who wants to change his life and fix the
social problem.
• The Anti-Hero is a part of that journey or tries to stop the Protagonist
for his own gain.
• The Protagonist faces a lot of moral and social problems which he has
to solve.

5. Sweet Sixteen
• UK Social Realistic film by Ken Loach
• This film is very gritty and almost if not all locations are real locations
rather than filmed in studios, this not only makes the film more
realistic but also makes it cheaper for the film makers.
• The film has mainly diegetic sound and hardly any music, the
dramatic silence makes the audience feel like this is real and not a
dolled up Hollywood film adding to the Grittiness.

6. This is England
• UK Social Realistic film by Shane Meadows (Released in 2007)
• This film tackles racism in the 1980’s and shows real controversies
and views of racial diversity in England during this time.
• The film shows the difference in views of racial diversity. The younger
generation being more liberal and the dominant view being a
traditional view which is slightly forced upon the younger characters.

7. Half Nelson
• US Social Realistic film by Ryan Fleck
• A Genre not really explored by American Film makers and a genre
associated with British film, Half Nelson tackles the theme of Drugs
and a Dysfunctional students.
• The film uses diegetic sound in the same way Sweet Sixteen does
however sometimes uses diegetic music to give a realistic way to
make a scene more emotional.

8. Somers Town
• Somers Town is a social realistic modern black and white film. The
film was released in 2008 and was directed by Shane Meadows
director of This is England.
• The film concentrates on the lives of two kids who share the same
interest in a girl. The film studies the society of London and the
cultures within it.
• The black & white filter throughout the film adds a bleakness to the
film and takes away the glamorousness of the scenery.

9. Sweet Sixteen Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9A4QfP6C4
The diegetic sound of the people being visited in the prison gives the scene a sense
of normality and as if this criminal life is something regular among the working
class Scottish society and plenty of people are in the same situation as they are.
The language and the accents used show both regional identity as well as class as
the characters talk with a common tone emphasising the social realistic themes
within the scene as working class people are associated with crime.
The costume also shows status as they are wearing leather jackets and tracksuits
connotes that they aren’t well off money wise especially the teenager.

10. This is England Clip (Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0jkv2bRFgQ
The ska music initially establishes a 80’s theme and also connotes a working class
atmosphere as this music was very popular around this time. The music gives the
clip an upbeat feeling as a boy finds somewhere he belongs and shows him being
raised with potentially dangerous people labelled ‘skinheads’. The montage of him
experiencing new things such as love, violence, fun and acceptance at such a young
age shows the inevitability of these experiences as he is living in a lower class
society.
The music and tone of the clip changes when the boy meets the leader of the
group who has a tattooed face and takes the boy under his wing dragging him into
a life of crime and extreme ideological views that influence their actions. The music
is more sped up and shows not just the crime and violence but also the loyalty and
family that the group shows.

11. Half Nelson Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGZzWyt-YG0
This clip has virtually no music or non diegetic sound apart from the end of the clip as the music provides as a
transition between 2 scenes. This gives the atmosphere of realism and simplicity as he is a teacher looking out
for one of his students who is being tied into the wrong society and crowd. Once the teacher confronts her
brother who is influencing her towards drug dealing they find common ground and sort things out
diplomatically this adds to the simplicity and the loneliness as there are no major catastrophes in the small
town only individual problems like petty crime and drugs.
The camera shakes looking as if someone is holding it, making the audience feel as if this is a documented
piece of film and that it is real; this reflects lower class society in the United States.
Towards the end of the clip you see the young girl riding her bike (by the looks of it on her way home) to quite
slow and empty music, this followed with the tracking shot from afar showing her surroundings and showing
how simple and slow life is and enhancing that sense of loneliness especially when this atmosphere is
associated with the girl. The teacher feels she is lost and is being exploited by her brother and does not want
her to take the same route as he is going through (drugs) that is why the scene with him and her brother
discussing is so seamless with her riding home. This scene by itself shows not only how lonely she and the
teacher are but how lonely everyone else is and it seems that everyone is disconnected and is just having a
casual day, spending time at familiar places in the same routine everyday.

12. Somers Town
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuJR_BZmCAo&safe=active
The film is in all black and white and shows a cafe with an elderly man in a suit
talking to the waitress in French. This paints the picture that she is sophisticated
and that maybe the two boys don't belong there. The location feels like London as
the place is very diverse as one of the boys is polish the other from outside of
London and the waitress and elderly man are French. The boys clothing suggests
they are working class and are in a rough economic struggle especially both being a
minority demographic in London. The boys friendship is presented throughout by
how they act and react to each other and other people, for example when the
French waitress begins to talk to the two boys they both turn and look at her and
react to what she says in the same way. They begin to flirt with her even though
she is clearly many years older than them and try to show a sophisticated side to
them which immediately changes as she leaves the scene. No location is shown
apart from the cafe which makes it seem that they are their to either see her or to
hang out showing the boys have a strong connection.