PRIDE

This delightful, uplifting, life affirming, British crowd-pleaser is the most fun you’ll have at the cinema this year. 

PRIDE is the true story of a genuine friendship and solidarity between the unlikeliest of people. During a bitter workers strike that saw a small Welsh mining community battling against the heavy handed Thatcher government’s closing of mines in 1984, an improbable ally came to their aide during their time of need.

Along the same inspirational feel-good lines as Billy Elliot (2000), and The Full Monty (1997), we follow similar UK working class folk finding themselves in unexpected circumstances that will challenge everyone’s preconceptions, opening their eyes and hearts to a whole new world, and creating life-long bonds between two oppressed communities.

Joe, a young shy teenager just discovering his sexuality and living in a conservative middle class family, suddenly finds himself pulled into a political conflict, attracted by a fun charismatic group of queer activists. The young passionate leader Mark, seeing a common plight against prejudice and injustice, leads the rag tag band of partying activists to take up the cause of miners in a small Welsh village they have never met and decide to help raise funds and share their years of experience fighting against government abuses.

Nestled in the remote picturesque rolling hills of Welsh country side, an ultra-conservative community is suffering under increasing pressure to give up their fight for what they believe, and are soon suffering as they find themselves cut-off from government social assistance, literally being starved back to work. The unions seem to be of little help but the unexpected kindness and assistance by what many consider to be deviants, perverts and worse may be too humiliating to accept.

It is said that ‘prejudice can’t survive proximity’ and in this shout out loud hilarious heart felt drama, friendship and good will goes a long way toward bridging differences and forging strong bonds when the small group of city activists from London decides to travel to South Wales and meet the families of the miners suffering under strong-arm tactics of the Thatcher government.

The message is as relevant today as it was at the time of the actual events thirty years ago. When the chips are down, that’s when you find out who your friends are. When the young group of radical city gays and lesbians take their first hesitant steps into the stark remote archaic Welsh village, they are as afraid and uncertain as the town’s folk are of them.

With all the awkwardness and hilarity of two people who want nothing to do with each other but find themselves coming together to fight a common enemy, and with classic 80s dance music by popular pop bands of the time like Bronski Beat, Culture Club, and Billy Idol, they gradually begin to accept and appreciate each other. 

There are superb comic performances by the British ensemble cast led by English greats like Bill Nighy – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake (2004), Maleficent (2014) and Paddy Considine – Submarine (2010).

Don’t walk, march to the nearest cinema and cry and laugh with joy at every moment of this fabulous film. Look for PRIDE opening in select cinemas September 26 and now playing at TIFF14; Toronto International Film Festival.

JP