The skinhead culture fascinates many directors and it's understandable. It's one of the few remaining subcultures in the West, much because of the Nazi connections.

But the skins in this movie aren't political and no racists to start with. One of the gang members is even black. They live in a happy community in the early 80s, having fun and being together in a totally grey unfriendly working class environment. It's very hopeful and the 12-year-old finds himself accepted for the first time in his life. His longing for the dead father of the Falklands war is somewhat replaced.

But darkness arrives with the skin veteran who comes back from jail. And there are conflicts between the racist fraction and the others. But whatever this is, it's not black and white. The characters are much more complicated.

Much has been said about young Thomas Turgoose as the 12-year-old. He's very good but the great portrait is by Stephen Graham as the old/new gang leader. Absolutely brilliant work.

THIS IS ENGLAND is a superb film - straight from the heart and unflinching in its depiction of urban racism in 1980s Thatcherite England. Shane Meadows certainly cemented himself as one of our country's most engaging talents with the double whammy of this and DEAD MAN'S SHOES, two excellent films which require and reward repeat viewing.

Somewhat autobiographical in its intentions, THIS IS ENGLAND makes for a nostalgic viewing experience for us children of the 1980s. The cast of oddball characters are thoroughly engaging and the reactions between them are completely true to life. Of the cast, the experienced likes of Joseph Gilgun are as good as you'd expect, but the real triumph comes from the heartfelt and poignant performance of Thomas Turgoose, the lovable lead.

The film starts off as a funny slice-of-life drama but gradually things take a darker turn with the introduction of a skinhead gang. Stephen Graham's turn as a psychotic skinhead gang leader is absolutely electrifying and one of the most gripping I've seen in a long while. His final scene is particularly dramatic and, indeed, one of the most powerful I've seen depicted on film. Altogether this is a great movie and good enough for me to consider tracking down the TV series follow-ups.

It's July 1983. Shaun Fields is small in stature with a giant chip on his shoulder. He lost his beloved father in the Falklands. He gets thrown out by the Pakistani shopkeeper and gets into a fight in school. He is befriended by Woody and his gang. They get into minor mischief and friendly mayhem. Shaun gets Smell as his girlfriend. His mother won't buy him Dr. Martens. The group is disrupted by Combo returning from prison. Combo takes over leadership as he pushes his white power agenda. Woody, Jamaican Milky, and others leave but Shaun falls for Combo. Combo takes the group to a National Front meeting with the call "This is England".

The kid is amazing and no punches are pulled. Shane Meadows puts his soul into this. The music is terrific. All the characters are vivid and specific highlighted by Combo and Woody. There is a sparse power and intensity to the story.