I guess we’re all gifted from birth with quirks, traits, inclinations or ways of life that make us unique individuals, but that individuality can also make us outsiders to the many larger communities we find ourselves in once our lives get going.
PRIDE is a film about the solidarity between two groups of outsiders who, in their shared love, respect and feelings of fear and isolation, eventually come together to make each other feel a little less alone and strive to make a difference for one another.
I have very little first hand experience of the 1980s miners strikes in Britain Holland
However, along with my bisexuality and visual impairment, being raised as a military brat has at times, at many times in fact, made me feel like an outsider, to the point where I’m willing to say that it’s probably the one thing about myself that I’ve still not been able to reconcile.
The positive note in there is that I’m managing to conquer two out of three. For me the internet has been what’s helped me feel less alone about my sexuality ever since I figured out who and what I was. In fact, due to my social phobias, I don’t know what I’d have done without it. Through an LGBT message board that I’ve been a member of for eleven years now I’ve experienced the sort of close-nit, supportive community that PRIDE depicts, although I must admit that I’m a little jealous that I couldn’t have experienced it with people in person (although I have on occasion, with mixed results) – I just find face to face social interaction in groups overwhelming without help.
PRIDE is ambitious enough not only to tell the story of an LGBT community and a portion of striking miners coming together to support each other, but also to tell a handful of personal stories about coming out and dealing with being treated and feeling like an outsider.
There’s surely a character in there for everyone – the brash, the brave, the shy, the awkward, the scared and the downright daft.
It’s an ensemble piece and so performances are justifiably and commendably strong. The script goes to great lengths to give the central characters as much screen time as it can without compromising the story, which drives along at a great pace. This is an epic tale on a small scale that’ll make you want to punch the air and clap your hands as loudly as you can by the end.
I’m not one for wearing my heart on my sleeve, but even I felt like hugging my friends as we left the theatre.
“Friends”, you ask? Long story.
The film also inspires a little work on your part too as, even though it provides a suitable narrative and emotional conclusion, it teases enough about the true story at its heart that you’ll want to go out and learn more for yourself and maybe even get involved with, well, something, which is to PRIDE’s great credit.
A special acknowledgement goes out to Dominic West who I’ve heard of a lot through his breakout television roles but have never actually seen perform. Here he plays the elder statesman of the LGBT activists who carries the weight of a man who’s seen it, done it, bought the t-shirt, had the t-shirt stolen off him and had somebody lend him a t-shirt so he can carry on. He’s a big brother/sister figure to these bunch of beautiful “perverts” and it’s West’s dignified and intelligent performance that drives the character to shine.
