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Written by Alex Pollard
Sometimes amongst the inevitable trudge of appalling Christmas television, there is a glimmering star of hope. Hope that there is creativity and originality left on television hiding behind the cash cow of pointless Christmas specials. This year that star came in the form of This Is England ’88.
Before I go any further, I would like to ensure that you have already seen both This Is England and its television “spin-off” This Is England ’86. If you haven’t, you owe it to yourself to go and watch them right this minute. Take a break from revision, eating, whatever it is you’re doing (let’s face it, it’s probably the latter) and treat yourself to two of the most astonishing, harrowing and touching pieces of film this decade has seen. Done it? Good, then I’ll continue.
Two years on from its predecessor, This Is England ’88 sees the return of familiar faces, as well as the appearance of a few new ones. Woody (Joe Gilgun) has got himself a new “posh” girlfriend, much to the excruciatingly obvious delight of his parents. He however, seems less thrilled at where his life has taken him. With pressure from his parents to stay in his relationship, and an offer of promotion at work that, we infer, he sees as one more nail in the coffin of monotony, Woody quietly breaks down into tears as he sits in the bath. Smell (Rosamund Hanson) and Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) are suffering from the staleness of overly-familiar relationship, but the centre of gravity here is Lol (Vicky McClure). Haunted by visions of her dead abusive father, as well as the guilt of allowing Combo (Stephen Graham) to plead guilty to the murder she committed, we witness the final stages of a quiet and modest breakdown.
In a scene free of sentimentality, yet completely devastating, Lol confides in the nurse she had previously sniped at and admits how troubled she has become. Vicky McClure provides, as ever, an outstanding performance here- one look at Lol’s hollowed face tells a whole life time of suffering. And it is understatement that This Is England always does best. When so much of it is filled with typically English awkwardness and repressed emotions, you truly believe Woody’s torment when he says to his estranged best friend; “You’ve broke it. You’ve f*cking broken everything”.
The final episode in fact, sees Joseph Gilgun’s Woody, who has until now been lingering mostly in the nervous comedy department, blossom completely. His last ten minutes on screen take the audience through a brief history of the top 100 emotions, culminating in an incredibly touching final scene. I think it’s obvious by now that I am talking about This Is England ’88 roughly like a 14 year old girl might about Justin Bieber, so I’ll stop before I embarrass myself. All I can say is roll on This Is England ’90. And ’92. And ’94. And *queue fade out*…
This Is England '88 aired on three consecutive nights on Channel 4 and is available to watch on 4OD at time of writing.
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