British Social Realism: From Documentary to Brit Grit (Shortcuts) - Softcover

From its beginnings in the documentary movement of the thirties, to its more stylistically eclectic and generically hybrid contemporary forms, socialrealism in British cinema remains a rich and diverse tradition. Samantha Lay examines the movements, moments, and cycles of British social realist texts through a detailed consideration of practice, politics, form, style, and content. It also includes case studies of key texts includingListen To Britain, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Letter To Brezhnev, andNil By Mouth. The book considers the challenges for social realist film practice and production in Britain, now and in the future.

Samantha Lay is lecturer in film and media studies at West Herts College, United Kingdom.