Pride (2014)

*** out of ****

The British Coal Miners Strike was an extremely significant event in the UK, with tens of thousands of workers across dozens of mines walking out in protest of the governments plans to restructure the industry. Many TV shows and several movies (including the Oscar nominated "Billy Elliott" - 2000) have been centered around the strike. Now there is a new entry - 2014's "Pride", a true story, and a marvelous British film about a group of gay Londoners' attempts to raise money to bolster the strikers.

The film centers around a small group of men and women shortly after the 1984 Pride Parade in London. The key character in the film is Mark (Ben Schnetzer), a rebel at heart who decides the strike is his new primary point of interest after the parade has ended. He and his small band of friends begin to collect money to give to the union, as their dislike for the Thatcher government rivals that of the strikers. They form their organization “Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners” and set about collecting money.

But lo and behold, the union leaders refuse to take the funds they raise for fear that aligning with a gay organization will cost them public support and send the “wrong message”. So instead, the group directly contact a village in Wales that is seriously suffering due to the strike, and deliver the money directly to them. Over the course of several months, as the miners and the fundraisers become more familiar with each other, their camaraderie deepens and they all realize that they aren't all that different at all.

Of course there are growing pains. The miners, perhaps the most “macho” of occupations, at first resist any contact with the group. But the need for the money makes them give it a try, and some overages are made to act friendly. At first it really is an act, as the miners and their families mostly believe they just need to be courteous and still keep "the gays" at arm's length. But a few right-minded individuals in the town insist that they show actual friendship to the group, as they're acting only in the best interests of the town with no regard or gain for themselves. As the rapport between them grow, we find that the gay men and women will do anything for their new friends, as they have proven themselves real friends, and the miners adopt the group as honorary townspeople and will do virtually anything to protect them from harm. Including from some of the other miners that never come around.

I thought this was a beautiful film. While it is about the strike, what it really explores is prejudice. Keep in mind that these events occurred some three decades ago and you find that this communal feeling that developed was a bit ahead of its time. It is often funny, more often moving, and simply great entertainment.

The performances are all pretty amazing to boot. Ben Schnetzer is wonderful as Mark, Bill Nighy is fantastic (as he always is) playing one of the leaders of the local union in Wales, and Dominic West is amazing as Johnathon. Everyone else is just as good, but those three really find the right notes to play throughout the entire film. Perhaps a bit schmalzty, but in my opinion never overly so, this is surely a great unsung movie of last year. Really wonderful – find a way to see a copy.