Pride [DVD] (2014)

Living near Dullais, I was interested in finding out a bit of local history in this comedy drama, but I wasn't expecting anything quite so wonderful, tears of joy, sadness and laughter all in one film. It's a film about compassion, community, support and acceptance, when a gay and lesbian campaign group raise money for Welsh miners to support them during the 1984-85 miner's strike.After watching it, I was a bit perplexed as to why it got a 15 rating as everything was very mild, bar perhaps something being found in a bedside draw, but to be honest I've seen worse things found on Come Dine With Me. 12A would be how I'd rate it, as there are some tough topics (AIDS/homophobia) covered, that parents may want to discuss with their children after watching the film.

I'm not a miner, from a mining community, haven't grown up near any of these places, wasn't alive during the times this film follows, don't know much about Thatcher or the mining strike (other than one happened), and I'm from a generation and a general group of people for whom non-heterosexual and/or non-heteroromantic is far from being 'queer' (excuse the pun). I say this because it seems many reviews at the top are from people who were in at least some way otherwise.It's not documentary style (i wouldn't describe it as that), there are some real characters and there are some fictional ones (you can read about it later), it's not about the politics. The only thing it does is herald, celebrate and show the benefits of solidarity. As a film it does this very well. That's what makes it so uplifting. The characters are fun. Yes, some we don't hear much about beyond their service to the actual flow of the film, but I didn't feel it as a lack -- a lot of people, finite time, selecting certain woes if/where there were any centred upon the films themes... I thought it was done well. The real characters (some more or less based on the actual real people) and the fictional characters (i.e. the young chap we first follow going into a pride march).It's not about AIDS -- so why should it have a huge nod to it? As some seem to expect it to. It has a nod to it. And it comes up -- more than once. But that isn't the theme of the film or anything directly to do with the targeted story, so I'm not sure what those reviewers really expected in that regard.It's just a great film -- great because something around these lines actually happened, and great because of its message.

No spoilers in this review.I married into a staunch labour mining family and moved to a major pit area. This film brought back so many memories ... the countryside where even the grass is tinged with a shade of black, the supportive communities where the highs and lows of life are met in 'solidarity', and the unique culture that was decimated by the closing of the pits. The scene of police minibuses queuing to get off the motorway was one I saw everyday driving to work.Watch out for glimpses of the deformed arthritic hands caused by hard labour wielding a pickaxe day in and out to break it off the seam face. Many miners had tattoo like patches on their body where bits of sharp coal had cut them and the dust had healed inside. Wives worked hard especially in the days before pithead baths and uniforms, and supporting each other in times of hardship and loss. Back breaking and heart breaking essential work; and traitorous that it was not appreciated as such.But I didn't know about the support given to the miners by the Gay community. This film sensitively shows the oppressions of the times to groups who find themselves on the 'other side' of the social & political thinking of the period, and how acceptance and respect can unite people who have (at the same time) so little and so much in common. The questions the miners ask their gay visitors about their lifestyle, though at first seeming 'light-hearted' scenes, on reflection are very telling about genuine interest without prejudice. I wish I had known and appreciated this part of my 'heritage' at the time. The film also shows how strong and caring Gay people are, as individuals and as a group, to themselves and others; and the wisdom having to 'survive' and be true to themselves has given them.A great cast, fantastic film shots, and stories that show the life of the times from differing angles make this an enjoyable but thought provoking film. It is one I will no doubt watch again and again and still recall a 'forgotten' memory; or notice something new about myself, other people, or the film and it's characters. For example, how liberating being caring and positive is, compared with the 'down-grinding strangulation' that is prejudice and negativity.

I love this film