Entry Number 9 - After Viewing

Genre

4. How would you categorise this film in terms of genre? Does it remind you of any other films you have seen?

In my opinion the genre of this film is a comedy. This is because of the humorous boy ‘Tomo’, the way he acts. Also a bit of romance is in there as well. This is because they both have fallen in love with the character Maria. This film doesn’t remind me of anything in particular as I think it is very unique, in the sense of having a very interesting narrative.

5. What do you think is the film’s appeal for audience?

The main appeal to audience is most proberly the comedy. Most audience enjoy comedy and can relate to it. Another appeal is the narrative, how two people who have very different in cultures/background but same as they are lonely, find each other and become such good friends.

6. As well as being in black and white, the film is subtitles during the conversations in Polish between Marek and his father; there are also sections in French. In what ways do these factors affect your response to the film, the situation and the characters?

These factors make me realise that there are so many cultures in London, and Shane Meadows is just high lighting it. I can tell that the majority of the characters are just looking for a better way of living; this contributes to the theme of the Eurostar, which is apparent throughout the film.

7. what similarities and differences can you identify between Somers Town and This is England?

The similarities is of the character Tomo as he is lonely and his dad doesn’t want anything to do with him, as similar with the character in This is England Shaun, but his Dad died. Same kind of setting, flats but the difference is there isn’t a construction site there. There isn’t much diversity as Somers Town, only the character ‘Milky’ and another difference its shot in colour. More characters for the audience to read and understand.

Representation

8. To what extent do you think the audience is expected to comfortable with this portrait of two teenagers?

I think that the audience would be comfortable with it. However some bit the audience may feel sad for Marek when he is left alone and possibly feel a bit uncomfortable when Tomo is beaten up. I don’t think all of it relates to all teenagers of today but a to quite a few of them.


9. A sign on the estate read “children playing on these ground is prohibited”. In what different ways do Tomo and Marek seek to amuse themselves within this environment? Do you think the film encourages us to judge any of their actions?

In the film they go and get drunk on the play park, and nick a wheelchair. I don’t think it encourages us to judge them as it shows there isn’t much to do for teenagers.

10. What messages about childhood and adolescence do you, or could you, take away from the film?

Not everything is easy for some people also to understand other people situations and adapt to them.

11. Do your reactions towards the boys change at different points in the film? Which moment in particular:

Encourage you to sympathise with the boys;
When Maria leaves, Tomo gets beaten up, Marek gets left on his own a lot and when Marek’s father’s friends make fun of him.

Make you unsympathetic towards them?
When Marek’s father yells at them for ruining there flat when they become drunk and when they steal the bag of clothes and get the wrong clothing.

12. Some of the other characters include Marek’s father, Mariusz, Graham the cockney neighbour, and the French waitress, Maria. To what extent would you agree that Meadows is playing with stereotypes in his representation of these characters?

I don’t believe he is playing with stereotypes that much. To me they just seem like normal people trying to live there life as best as they can. However the character Graham has a stereotype of being dodgy when he is trying to flog junk and also Mariusz coming across from Poland to work on a temporary job.