2. What is British Social Realism
Social realism in films is a portrayal of British
culture and is representative of real life, with
all its difficulties. The stories and people
portrayed are everyday characters, usually
from working class backgrounds. Typically,
films within the social realist canon are gritty,
urban dramas about the struggle to survive
the daily grind. The films also aim to challenge
much of cultural issues within society

3. Definition
Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is
an artistic movement, expressed in the visual
and other realist arts, which depicts social and
racial injustice, economic hardship, through
unvarnished pictures of life's struggles; often
depicting working class activities as heroic.

4. Challenging issues
Usually a social realism film deals with issues like drugs,
sex, poverty, prostitution,
homosexuality, alcoholism and
crime. Social realism
films usually involve
political views and religious views. Wider
social issues social issues are explored via emotional
and dramatic individual stories.

5. Actors
British Social Realism films use non-professional
or unknown actors as it enhances the realistic
theme. Also, many Social Realism films cannot
afford popular, Hollywood actors to be in their
films as the budget is usually relatively low.

6. Codes and conventions
CHARACTERS:
Social Realist films have working class heroes
often overcoming their situation and not doing
just what is expected of them
LOCATIONS:
The locations of a social realism
film are usually set around a
council estate or run down areas
of different cities, but can be
a nice neighbourhood

7. CAMERA:
A raw use of camera movement – lots of
handheld, POV and tracking shots to get the
spectator in the action with
the characters. Many close ups
to connote emotions
EDITING:
Cross cutting to link different characters
storylines
Continuity to aid realism
Slower pace to reflect real life
Simple cuts to aid realism – no effects

8. THEMES/PLOT:
Wanting a better life and trying to achieve it
Main protagonist will better themselves or
try to focus is on young protagonist and their
future
MISE EN SCENE:
Production Design: Poverty stricken
locations, city, urban, built up areas, estates
and tower blocks which we associate
with crime

9. LIGHTING:
Dim natural lighting connoting daily life and
all its misery
Costume: Cheap, hoodies, streetwear, casual
(unemployed/truanting)