If you find yourself in Paris, and love cinema, all through the year, many movie theatres offer small festivals and movie weeks. I had the chance to see Pride during the Comedy week, organised by one of our main cinema chains. I’ve been following the project for a while so I was psyched when they announced the premiere. Pride is based on the story of young LGBT activists, who, during the 1984 miners’ strike against the Thatcher Government, decided to create a union (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners). Their aim was to collect money and help a miners’ community in Wales.
Pride is a feel-good, heartwarming British comedy. Matthew Warchus is coming back to the movie world after 15 years of being away, and he did a great job. It’s very well written, very well directed, and very well acted. It deals with a very serious part in British History, and even if it’s treated in a more comical way, it doesn’t diminish the seriousness of what was happening.
The first thing I liked about Pride, was learning about a side of a historical event that I didn’t know about before. For those who studied that part of history, we all know the Thatcher Government was bad news and did horrible things during the Miners’ strike (including trying to starve them out in order to have them going back to work, and arresting people for no real reasons). It is represented in the movie and you understand why it was important for the miners to receive support. To be able to learn about the LGSM, and what they did, is inspirational. Also, it was the beginning of AIDS, people didn’t know much about it, and it is a scary disease. You see some of the characters going through it, which adds in seriousness.
Here, we have an all-star cast. With that sort of cast, sometimes it works and sometimes there’s just too many egos fighting each other to steal a scene. Here it’s the perfect balance. They all have their identities, their stories, and all together, they have a great group chemistry. It’s also the clash of two generations and of two different worlds. On one side you have the LGBT Londoners who are mostly very young with a lot of ideas; on the other side, you have the Miners’ community of the Dulais Valley in Wales. But it’s also a new generation of actors working with a more established one. It gives a double meaning and highlights the message of the movie.
I got very attached to the characters. From the fierce LGSM leader Mark (Ben Schnetzer) and his group of helpers (including George MacKay, Joseph Gilgun, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Faye Marsay, and more), to the miner Dai (Paddy Considine) and his whole community of amazing people (including Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Jessica Gunning, and more). They are so interesting, and I wanted them to win their fight and achieve their goal. They capture your attention and never let it go.
Pride is all about the people, and coming together as one, no matter how different we are. The LGSM wanted to help the people that were experiencing the same thing as they did. And even if they were rejected by many unions, they found the Dulais Valley and collected more money than any unions.
It gave me so much hope in people because I feel like nowadays it’s more about who had it harder and not so much about “I recognize that you also have your problems and I’m gonna help you through it.” That final scene, with the miners coming to the Gay Pride parade, It just warmed my heart and made me extremely happy. They just came to show their support to the LGBT community, just like they did for them, and without being asked to do it. I just really loved that idea.
Pride is definitely one of my favourite movie of the year, hands down. I got out of there with the hugest smile and a warm feeling in my heart. Go and see it, educate yourself on the matter, it’s worth the watch!
Rating: 5/5
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