Social Realism 2nd draft

Social realism, which can also be known as socio realism, is an artistic form which can expressed, like other artistic forms, can be expressed in different visual forms. (Film, paintings, drawing etc).
The art forms focus on issues or themes relative to real life situation class such as; Abuse, bankruptcy, racial discrimination or hatred.
Realism in arts is looking or observing the ordinary around us. Many artists used realism to truthfully show the world, the lives, problems and appearances of normal people in the world. This links in with social realism as social realism depicts the world for working class people, however it mainly focuses on the hardships or problems people have to face such as, violence, debt, and many other struggles in life.
Social realism in film first came from Italy, from the Italian neorealist movement. which was known for having a very naturalistic feel. Some popular directors from this scene include; Roberto Rossellini (‘Paisa’), and Vittorio De Sica (‘Bicycle Thieves’).
‘Bicycle Thieves’ directed by ‘Vittorio De Sica’ is Social Realism film released in 1948. The film follows the story of a poor man searching the streets of Rome for his stolen bicycle, which he needs to for him to work so he can support his wife and 2 children. This shows how from the beginning of Social Realism issues such as poverty, and family life and having to support a family. In addition to this we can see how classes were something that was represented widely in Social Realism films.
Countries such as France were also involved in the social realism scene, however the social realist movement in France was in more art. Many of the painters who incorporated social realism into their works focused on the painful or harsh realities and used it as way to rebel against ‘Idealism’ and to show working class life which is similar to what social realism in film shows. Some French artists in the social realism movement include; Jean- Francois, Gustave Courbet, Honorè Daumier and more.
Many of these artists focused on the political part of life, such as Honorè Daumier, with propaganda style paintings, which there were many of in France at the time.

Another country known for using social realism as an expressive art form is India. Social realism in film in India is used to show things such as economic struggle, famine, drought and the struggle to provide for your family. For example the 1946 Hindi film ‘Neecha Nagar’ from the director Chetan Anand, shows the vast gulf or gap between the rich and poor in Indian society. However this is similar to social realism in British film, as it shows economic hardship or struggle for the working class. In addition to this the 1977 film ‘Nagarik’ from the Indian director Ritwik Ghatak shows the breakup of family due to financial problems, leading to family humiliation. The film also touches upon things such as separation and homelessness.

However despite its roots and other countries forms of social realism, Social realism is considered to be one of the main forms of cinematography in Britain. For People in Britain early cinema was based on points made by writers such as Dickens and Thomas Hardy.
The first British film to show realism as form of protest and expression was from Scottish born Director James Williamson. The film was released in 1902 and was entitled ‘A reservist before the war’. The film showed men from the Boer war having to return home to vast unemployment. In addition directors such as Cecil Hepworth caught Edwardian England at a particular moment in its history in the film ‘Rescued by rover’.
After the First World War the south-eastern middle class audience believed that realism was the key to national cinema. Realism had connotations of education, sophistication and a high degree of seriousness. This was due to many working class people favouring films in the style of the Hollywood genre. This has still distinguished the two genres, to some extent, to the present day. However this does not apply for everyone. In the 1930’s,leading into the 1940’s, British cinema still had the sense of documentary which it had done earlier in the 1900’s. Films began to show how wartime (during the second world war) how society was changing. This was focusing on things such as women’s changing role in society. For example working in munitions factories. Boundaries between rich and poor were being smoothed out to create a society where people could live without tension between classes. Films such as ‘This happy breed’, ‘Millions like us’ and ‘Target for tonight’ all shot in the early 1940’s focus on this.

One main Social Realism released in the 1960s was ‘The Loneliness of the Long Distance runner, released in 1962.
The film is based on short story written by Allan Sillitoe and was directed by Tony Richardson. The film tells the story of a rebellious young boy, sentenced to a borstal) for robbing a bakery, who rises through the ranks of the institution through his prowess as a long distance runner. During his solitary runs, reveries of his life and times before his incarceration lead him to re-evaluate his privileged status as the Governor's prize runner. The film is set in the grim environment of Britain in the 60’s. It shows the story of a defiant boy, who is rebels against and defies authority. We can see how themes and issues that were first brought in earlier British Social Realism films are still shown in British film today. For example we can see a development of the theme in Alan Clarkes 1979 film ‘Scum’. The film is again set in a borstal, which shows the similarity between the two films and shows repeating themes in Social Realism. The film tells the story of a young offender named Carlin as he arrives at the institution and his rise through violence and self-protection to the top of the inmates' pecking order, pureley to survive in the borstal. This along with ‘Lonilness of the Long distance runner’ shows themes such as authority within the borstal. We continue to see development in Social Realism portrays youth and gang violence in North/North East London. However later in British Social realism films we can see this theme develop. For example in Alan Clarkes 1982, Made in Britain’. The film is about a 16-year-old white power skinhead named Trevor, and his constant confrontation with authority. Here we see focus on the character inside an assessment centre. In addition to this we start to see a change in culture of the protagonists in these Social Realism Films. In more recent social Realism films, focusing on similar themes and issues, we can see a further development in culture and ethnicity in the protagonists. In Saul Dibbs 2005 film ‘Bullet Boy’ Ashley D walters (Mainly known from So Solid Crew’ plays the main character Ricky. Instead of places such as borstals and assessment centers we see the character leaving a prison to try and get his life back on track. The film still focuses on issues such as crime and authority; however authority is shown through gang crime and gang violence in north/north east London. However in a 2005 interview Dibb talks about ‘not glamourising gang violence’ which newer social realism films set in London such as ‘Kidulthood’ and ‘Adulthood’ may be seen as doing. This shows how Social Realism has developed from the 60’s to the 21st century, but shows how themes and issues such as class, violence and youth crime are still heavily represented.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s the new wave of British film came along. This was influenced by documenters such as Humphrey Jennings who showed and portrayed the lives of factory workers and men and women in post war Britain. Films such as ‘A kind of loving’ and ‘room at the top’ brought films to ordinary people of Britain which showed the structure of life in post war Britain.
Due to little or lack of censorship directors could give their characters social problems and difficulties, sex/love lives, money issues and things like this which began to make the characters ‘more human’. Subjects which had previously not been touched upon such as prostitution, abortion, depression and relationship problems were being dealt with in film as the 20th century progressed.
More modern films such as Billy Elliot (2000) by British directors Stephen Daldry and Tom Sheerin express social realism in working class Britain. Examples of Social realism in the film are the miners’ strike was relevant for the time the film was set which is 1984-1985. In addition to this it touches on subjects such as riots, crime and violence. It also shows what family life was like for some at this time.
There are many distributors and companies which release many Social Realism films, such as Artificial Eye, Warp Films and Vertigo Films. Films that these companies have released include, ‘This Is England’, ‘Faintheart’, and ‘last Resort’.
Codes and conventions of social realism in film are things such as bland interior settings and dull lighting in exterior settings. In addition they are giving a very naturalistic feel. A lot of modern films in social realism focus on thing such as violence, drug abuse and crime to show what the world around us today.