Deeper learning question: “How effective have the British Comedy films you have studied been at presenting ideas about British society and cultural values?”
This question is in reference to comparing two British Comedy films Notting Hill, and Attack the Block that we have studied in class. Whilst the two films are based in the city of London and both represent Britain to an audience, both films widely differ in the impression that they give.
In Notting Hill, Britain is represented through the popular ‘postcard Britain’ image of the picturesque, idyllic setting that overall our country is set upon showing to the rest of the world. After all it is this image that sets up our image on a purely tourism front. This image, fit with the charming, befuddling Hugh Grant character bodes well with the representation of Britain and our society.
Whereas Attack the Block features a far more negative representation of Britain. The film shows the poor side of London, with run-down council estates and the gang culture that resides here. To residents of Britain this is a well-known stereotype, but the film aids to stop that by ensuring that it is these kinds of people that end up being the heroes in this story. But if you look at the takings for the film it is evidently clear that a film like this does not appeal globally in comparison to films like Notting Hill and the middle-class Britain that is represents.
Although in some ways the films characters and locations are binary opposites of each other, they do share similarities in the form of their British values. Amongst both films a strong sense of cultural community. Hugh Grant’s character would be nothing without his friends, who are there for him, supporting him, in the main, key parts of the film. Likewise the ‘gang’ of youths in Attack the Block are a tight-knit group who stick together and defend one another throughout.
