Pride is the injection the movies needed. 2014’s fall season has been filled with bleak nihilistic films about the poor state of the world. Pride wants none of that: it forces its way into your hearts and minds by sheer determination. It also helps that it is a socially conscious well-made film about fascinating complicated people coming together to support a worthy cause. Man, just writing that last sentence gave me goosebumps and unbridled happiness.
Great Britain was crippled in 1984 by a Miners’ Strike, with the government waging a war against the working class. Especially hard hit is a small town in Wales, run by a small council lead by Dai (Paddy Considine), Hefina (Imelda Staunton), and Cliff (Bill Nighy). Coming to their aide is an unlikely source: a group called the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM). This group consists of Joe (George MacKay), a smothered boy just coming out; Steph (Faye Marsay), a demonstrative loyal supporter, Jonathan (Dominic West), the elder statesman of the LGBT movement, and angry powerful leader Mark (Ben Schnetzer). These strange bedfellows join forces to fight for the miners in multiple ways: fundraising, moral support, basic resources , etc. However, the fight is on multiple fronts for both sides: suppressive government on one side, prejudice on the other.
Pride feels like it exists in 1984. The movie gets the era details right, giving context and extra poignance for some of the issues the groups have to fight. The clothes, hairdos, and music match the androgynous sexual nature of 80’s culture well. The AIDS issue permeates the background of the movie, always threatening to become the central story, and much like the disease, just pops up when you least expect it. Family dynamics in regards to homosexuality are filled with fear and sometimes bigotry. The movie goes to great lengths to show just how counterculture the LGBT movement was in the 1980s, and how easily polarized their efforts could be construed.
Don’t feel bad for anyone in this film though; Pride is nothing short of euphoric. The movie’s open-mindedness is genuinely touching. Early on the film, Dai is forced to give a speech in a gay bar. The scene is set up for him to crash and burn, and instead, what occurs is a touching show of humility toward a group of people who receive none. The mutual support allows multiple characters who lack power at the start of the film to rise up and accept the challenges of their plight to meet them head on. Joe gets courage to stand up to his family and accept who he is. Gethin (Andrew Scott) attempts to reconnect with his religious mother. Sian (Jessica Gunning) breaks out of her housewife role to forge a path for herself. Each moral victory generates momentum and courage for another character to do something brave to make their worlds a better place to live, a powerful message for anyone desiring to make a change.
Pride succeeds in no small part because of the eclectic combination of actors that make up its cast. Relative unknown Ben Schnetzer is dynamite as LGSM’s leader, Mark. Mark’s resolve and charisma forms the backbone of the movement and driving force for the story: if we don’t believe Mark, the movie has no legs to stand on. Schnetzer imbues optimism and civic duty to Pride, and he also gives Mark enough layers that hide a deeper fear of mortality that resonate in the third act. Jessica Gunning and George MacKay sell their terrific arts as the frustrated housewife and the timid boy working up the nerve to come out. Surrounding the unknown cast are seasoned British vets. Imelda Staunton finally gets a chance to use her tightly-wound personality for a good cause, and Bill Nighy/Paddy Considine conveys quiet understanding as elder statesman of the mining community. Dominic West and Andrew Scott get the most satisfying arcs: as veterans of the LGBT cause, they get chances to see the youth push for something special. Scott in particular gets a chance to put a band aid over some long festering emotional wounds.
It’s amazing how a small gesture can make a gloomy situation more bright. Pride is a great reminder about collectivism. Sure, it is scary to feel alone and ostracized, but out there is someone who shares those similar feelings, and if you join forces to support what you believe in, the sum of your influences is greater that either individual. Pride made me well up with joy and satisfaction, and gives me hope for any future with people like these brave souls involved.