3 British Films

High Hopes (1988). East is East (1999). Submarine (2010).

High Hopes is a sweet observation of the life of couple Shirley and Cyril amongst the lives of Cyril's aging mother, stuck-up sister and mother's upper-middle-class neighbours. The film starts however, with a bashful, lost young chap - who you expect to be the protagonist - who introduces the viewer to Cyril. The reoccurs throughout the film highlighting Shirley's longing for a baby as she helps him and looks after him as if he were her child.

East is East  is set in 1971 Salford, (stars the majority of the cast of Eastenders) and watches the lives of the Khan family and the influence Manchester has had on the views of the Khan "children" (young adults). The hypocrisy of Mr. Khan is plain to see when he demands that his sons marry Pakistani women despite having married both a Pakistani and a Caucasian woman.

Submarine is an adaptation of the book by Joe Dunthorne. Richard Ayoade (the geeky on from the IT Crowd!) writes the screenplay and directs the film.

Submarine is set in 1980's Swansea and is the tale of a lovelorn teenage boy, Oliver Tate. His parents are experiencing marital problems since the rearrival of his mother's old flame, a self-help guru...called Graham. His lust for schoolmate Jordana feels quite Amelie-esque, as polaroids line his wall and they are seen sitting in a bath tub on the beach. I like how this film is similar to the other two in its subtle humour but adds in surreal scenes, a slightly modern touch bringing this film into the 21st century and setting it apart from the other two.


All are truly British comedies, funny but also quite poignant; without plot or story but just allowing the viewer into their lives for 120mins.