The Miners’ Strikes have been featured in many films… but never like this.
Whilst most movies focus on the ever-growing tensions between the miners and the police/government, Pride tackles the subject from a different angle.
Set in 1984, this remarkable true story focuses on Mark Ashton (Ben Schnetzer), a gay activist who realises that the miners and he share the same trio of enemies – the government, the media and the police. He therefore sets up LGSM (Lesbians and Gays support the Miners) – a group of fellow London-based gay and lesbian activists who raise money to support the strikers’ families.
This doesn’t go down well with the Miners Union – who are ignoring their calls. So, the group picks at random a small mining village in Wales and takes the money to them to hand it over in person. That’s all very well, but will the Welsh miners accept the gay group into their community?
This is a film perfectly acted out by the actors you’ll recognise and love, but also by the breakthrough artists that shine just as bright – a triumph for all involved.
I’m a big fan of 90’s British Comedies such as Brassed Off and The Full Monty. Pride feels like a film taken straight from that era. It’s a heart-warming movie filled with humour – but isn’t afraid to show that sticking up for what you believe in can often result in struggle and sorrow. By the end of the two hours, you’ll have laughed and cried.
See Pride (and much more) at the Showcase Cinema now. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date showtimes. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’.
Mikey Clarke
Genre: Drama & Comedy
Cast: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Ben Schnetzer, George Mackay, Andrew Scott, Paddy Considine, Faye Marsay & Joseph Gilgun
Running Time: 2 hrs
Directed by: Matthew Warchus
See it if you liked: Billy Elliot & The Full Monty
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