Under The Mud (2007)

With a tip of the cap to early Mike Leigh films and Trainspotting, Under The Mud tells the story of a working class family in Liverpool struggling to keep the family unit together. Joe Potts, the patriarch of the oddball family, has loose ties with the Liverpool underworld, and despite Joe’s obvious flaws as a father and husband, he makes great effort to ensure that his family remains together. The glue that binds is family friend Magic, who finds himself as mediator, motivator and conscience of the family. Written by Liverpudlian teenagers, Under The Mud explores deteriorating family values with human compassion and quite a bit of humour. An exceptionally detailed view of the modern working class British family, the film is one of the best examples of the struggles these families face to stay together. The small victories in life are what keep this family going in spite of the near-daily chaos.

www.underthemud.com

In This World (2002)

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Enayat and Jamal are Afghan refugees who live in a camp in Peshawar and try to escape to Great Britain by the help of people smugglers. Their dangerous journey leads them along the "silk road" through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey towards London.

IMDB.com

TRAILER

London To Brighton (2006)

Directed by
Paul Andrew Williams

Writing credits
Paul Andrew Williams

It's 3:07am and two girls burst into a run down London toilet. Joanne is crying her eyes out and her clothing is ripped. Kelly's face is bruised and starting to swell. Duncan Allen lies in his bathroom bleeding to death. Duncan's son, Stuart, has found his father and wants answers. Derek, Kelly's pimp, needs to find Kelly or it will be him who pays. Kelly and Joanne need to get through the next 24 hours alive...

Bullet Boy (2004)

Directed by
Saul Dibb

Writing credits
Saul Dibb
Catherine Johnson

BULLET BOY tells the story of two brothers growing up in one of London's most volatile neighbourhoods, where a minor street clash escalates into a cycle of violence that has tragic repercussions. A powerful and moving tale of young men on the edge, it reflects an emerging modern reality within Britain's inner cities. Pray... They may be your last words...

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

DISTRIBUTION CASE STUDY ON BULLET BOY

TRAILER ON YOUTUBE

January Exam Questions

Here are the two questions on Contemporary British Cinema section of the Exam.

1. Discuss what you consider to have been the strengths of the British cinema industry in recent years.
   
   [45 marks]
   
   
   
2. "The country of origin of a film is irrelevant. Why should we be bothered if all the films at our cinemas were made in the USA?" Discuss this view.
   
   [45 marks]
   

Funding and Industry

UK Film Council here

FDA site here (Film Distributors Association- lots of useful links)