Bristol City Council re-classifies This Is England from an 18 to a 15 certificate

Following the classification of Shane Meadow’s latest coming-of-age film This is England as an 18 certificate by the British Board of Film Certification (BBFC), Watershed’s Head of Film Programme, Mark Cosgrove, applied to Bristol City Council’s licensing committee to request that the film be re-classified to enable teenagers to see this important film. We are delighted to announce that the committee unanimously voted to re-classify the film for Bristol audiences and gave it a 15 certificate.

Mark originally saw the film at the Berlin Film Festival in Feb ‘07 in a strand aimed at audiences aged 14 and over and was surprised by the classification decision of the BBFC. Feeling strongly that teenagers should see this powerful film, which draws on the director’s own youth and tackles the moral dilemmas of growing up amidst bullying and peer pressure, Mark applied to the local licensing committee, who agreed with his opinion of the film.

This is England

Opening at Watershed on Friday 27 April, This is England is a powerful film set in an England on the verge of multi-culturalism in the early 80’s, a time when ska and skinhead culture briefly came together, only to be snuffed out by the rise of the National Front. Thomas Turgoose shines as Shaun, a mouthy yet vulnerable lad who falls in with a friendly and diverse bunch of skinheads. When an older, tougher member of the group returns home from prison, his seductive calls to patriotism, masking overt racism, divide the group. Superbly written, with spot-on period details and terrific soundtrack which perfectly captures the era, this film raises questions for teenagers about the seduction of racism through patriotism.

Mark Cosgrove and the Evening Post Headline

Watershed’s Head of Programme, Mark Cosgrove, commented:

This is England is a cautionary tale about peer pressure, bullying and racism and deserves to be seen by a younger audience. I am delighted that Bristol City Council have taken such a bold and enlightened view on this film.

Cllr Ron Stone, Chair of Bristol's Licensing Committee, said:

We believe this film delivers a positive, educational message about racism and its impact and that young people aged 15 to 18 would benefit from being able to see it. The Committee felt it was important that the certificate matched the audience for which it was created. We believe we are the first local authority in the country to have taken such an enlightened view on this particular film.

• This is England screens at Watershed from Fri 27 April - Thu 17 May. Please see This is England for details of all screening times.
• Tickets available from Watershed Box Office on (0117) 927 5100. Fee: Before 1700hrs: £3.50 / After 1700hrs: £6.00 full/£4.00 concessions.