Pride (2014) Film Review!

Pride (2014) Film Review - Lauren

Initial rating - 4/5 (Perhaps a tad higher!) Scroll past the image to read the full review.

This film is one of my favourites, and it's taken me over two years since the initial release for me to feel happy and comfortable to write a thorough review.

When I first watched this movie, I was 17, a college student, growing to be very self-aware of my sexuality, the prejudice against the LGBTQA+ community, and the effects that my opinions and beliefs could have on others.

Pride filled a gap in the market that no one had really addressed before. There was very little in the cinema that had ever really had a story-line that focused entirely on the LGBT community. It stirred already-present memories for an older generation, and excited those that were younger and desperate for the freedom and empowerment that this film offered.

This movie is incredible. It's beautifully written and directed. The cast is perfect (and listed below for your benefit) and the support from original members of LGSM (Lesbian's and Gay's support the miners) makes it all the more worthwhile and meaningful.

Pride is directed by Matthew Warchus, written by Stephen Beresford and produced by David Livingstone. The commentary (available on the DVD when purchased) is a hilarious, heartfelt voice-over, that gives you a little more insight into the creation of the film, and the moments that are the creators' favourites.

The focus of the film is around lesbian and gay activists in London in the 1980's, who formed a campaign to support mining communities during the strikes of 1984. The friendships and alliances that were created are beautifully presented, and the movie manages to create moments that are heart-wrenching, and some that can leave you in hysterics. This is in part to do with incredible writing and background research, and also thanks to the beautiful casting.

It focuses on a story-line that I'm sure was incredibly difficult to sell to a production company. It is quite clearly not mainstream, yet it reached a huge audience, making a pretty incredible sum at box office for an indie project. It's been met with critical acclaim [7.8 on IMDB and an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes] and has been nominated for a number of different awards, winning a few that included 'LGBTQ Film of the Year' and 'Best British Independent Film'.

In total, I'm pretty sure I went to see this film around 5 times in the Cinema, once with my Granddad, who at the time was incredibly moved by it all. He worked as a miner throughout much of Thatcher's time as Prime Minister, and Pride took him back to old times, reminding him of friends, family and events that he had previously started to forget. I also went with a group of friends I dragged with me from College. It was quite clear this film broke boundaries. There were groups of students, groups of teenagers there in the Cinema. Behind them, there were 50, 60, 70 year-old's. All who related to the time that had passed. Very few films manage to relate to such a diverse audience, and that's one of the things that makes it absolutely brilliant.

I love it. My love for this film hasn't distinguished in two years, and I doubt it ever will.

- Lauren Fran

Pride Main Cast.

LGSM Members

• Ben Schnetzer as Mark Ashton, founder of LGSM

• Joe Gilgun as Michael (Mike) Jackson

• Faye Marsay as Stephanie (Steph) Chambers

• Dominic West as Jonathan Blake

• Andrew Scott as Gethin Roberts

• Freddie Fox as Jeff Cole

• Chris Overton as Reggie Blennerhassett

• Joshua Hill as Ray Aller

• George MacKay as Joe "Bromley" Cooper, a fictional LGSM member

Women's Support Group Members

• Imelda Staunton as Hefina Headon, an activist

• Jessica Gunning as Siân James, wife of Martin

• Liz White as Margaret Donovan, wife of Dai

• Nia Gwynne as Gail Pritchard, wife of Alan

• Menna Trussler as Gwen, an elderly member, and widow of William, who was a miner

• Lisa Palfrey as Maureen Barry, a widow and sister-in-law of Cliff who is against LGSM support

Other Characters

• Bill Nighy as Cliff Barry, a leader of the men's union who eventually comes out as gay

• Paddy Considine as David (Dai) Donovan, a leader of the men's union

• Rhodri Meilir as Martin James, a leader of the men's union

• Sophie Evans as Debbie Thomas

• Karina Fernandez as Stella, an LGSM member who broke off to form an all-female group Lesbians Against Pit Closures

• Jessie Cave as Zoe, Stella's girlfriend

• Monica Dolan as Marion Cooper, Bromley's mother

• Matthew Flynn as Tony Cooper, Bromley's father

• Olwen Medi as Gethin's mother, who disowned him for being gay

• Kyle Rees as Carl Evans, a miner who asks Jonathan for dancing lessons

• Jack Baggs as Gary, Carl's friend who also asks for dance lessons

• Jams Thomas as the Miners Union Leader

• Deddie Davies as The Old Lady at Bingo

• Russell Tovey as Tim, friend of Mark's

((This list has been taken from Wikipedia - Click Here for access))

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#PRIDE #LGSM #LGBT