Class Films

Bob Cratchit. Ron Weasley. Daniel Blake. Working class characters are often painted as humble folk, morally pure and deserving of our sympathy. But what if they're...not?

Join us as we discuss truly progressive portrayals of the working class in film. Instead of patronising, what if films instead gave people agency over their own lives? Instead of portraying poverty as a purifying force, what if films were honest about the negative consequences of oppression on the subject? What if – and bear with me here – but what if working class people were sometimes bad? 

We start our first episode of 2024 with a quick discussion on the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, before jumping into a chat about a number of films, some which we think do the working class a disservice, and others that we feel are much more honest and human in their portrayals. Up for discussion are:

• The films of Ken Loach and Shane Meadows, including I, Daniel Blake (2016), Sorry We Missed You (2019) and This Is England (2006);
• Meantime (1983);
• Saltburn (2023);
• The films of Bong Joon-ho, including Snowpiercer (2013) and Parasite (2019);
• Fallen Leaves (2023);
• Red Rocket (2021);
• Harry Potter;
• Pride (2014);
• The Royle Family (TV sitcom);
• The Full Monty (1997);
• Brechtian theatre;
• The films of Jean-Luv Godard;
• Together (2000).