Film review: Pride

So just the other week before I left for my big move to Aberdeen I went to the cinema with my best friend to see the movie "Pride". Alright, so I know that this review is a little late but I just had to let you all know about this beautiful gem of a movie. If there is something I love, well that is British films. Usually they are always spectacular with an extremely moving and heartwarming story and after seeing "Pride", I can tell you that this film is without a doubt one of the best and most moving British films that has been made for years.

Directed by theater director Matthew Warchus "Pride" tells the true story of a group of Gay and Lesbian activists called LGSM who offer their support and form an unlikely alliance with the Welsh Miners, after their strike in the 80's which was prolonged by Margaret Thatcher's rigid policies. At the start of the film we are introduced to two different characters, Mark Ashton (Played brilliantly by Ben
Schnetzer) who is a confident Northern Irish social Activist and Joe (The rising star George Mackay) who is a shy closeted kid who is headed out to the gay march without his parent's knowledge. It is during this scene that Mark finds the parallels between his cause and the striking miners, so him and Joe along with Mark's friend Mike band together a small group. Outspoken Steph, Jeff, bookshop owner Gethin and his long term partner Jonathan set up a group called LGSM - Lesbians and Gay's support the miners to raise money for the starving families. Unfortunately despite their efforts the union rejects their support and the group are forced to directly contact a small community within Wales and the miners leader Dai. Initially they are met with suspicion and prejudice but they win over a certain few, notably Sian James (who is played superbly by Jessica Gunning) and a few others (Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy). Over time they begin to win over the miners who come to realise the similarities between them and the group, that LGBT rights are also human rights and one of the most unlikely yet successful alliances is forged within Britain. 

"Pride" boasts an absolute stellar ensemble cast with rising stars and also a few big names such as Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and also Andrew Scott. The cast work brilliantly with one another and unlike other films, there is not just one breakout star as the whole cast absolutely shine in their roles. Ben Schnetzer is effortless as the charismatic leader of the LGSM group and I have to mention that Andrew Scott is brilliant as the soft Gethin who has not been home to Wales after he was forced to leave home when he came out as gay to his religious mother. Scott's role maybe minor however it was one of the highlights of the film as the actor got to deal with a lot more of the emotional complexities within the film. Later during the film he goes back to Wales with the LGSM group is encouraged by Hefina (Imelda Staunton) to return home and visit his mother. 

Despite the heavy subject matter of the film, "Pride" is not gloomy and is in fact a heartwarming and uplifting film that is also enormously fun. It's a story of hope and courage that will make you laugh, cry and also smile and that is what makes "Pride" an extremely rare film. It packs real emotion that you can feel and unlike quite a few brit flicks it doesn't follow down the "cheesey" route and moves along at a fierce pace with vivid performances from each cast member who you can feel a sort of empathy towards.

So to finish of my review, I do realise that I seem to have extremely hyped this film up to be brilliant and that's because I truly believe it is one of the finest films to have been made this year. Actually if I have to be honest with you, I have always been a massive lover of British films and "Pride" is probably one of the best British films to have been made in years, thanks to the heart - warming and feel good story as well as brilliant performances. I guess in many ways the story of "Pride" teaches us that if something means a lot to you then you should always fight for what you believe in, no matter the circumstance and this is what makes it a truly inspiring story. It's strengths do not just lie in the humour but the successful aspirations of being the underdog as well as the decency of humanity starting to shine through a most unlikely but brilliant alliance between the LGSM group and the miners.

All I have to say is please see "Pride" while it is still in the cinemas. It is a film, that in my opinion, deserves to be seen by everyone.

Rating: 10/10 

Peace and love, Rachelcouture xoxo

Helena Bonham Carter: Timeless Classic

If there is one woman in the world that truly inspires me then that would be Miss Helena Bonham Carter, so when I saw that she was on the cover of my favorite fashion magazine Vogue, I knew I had to purchase it. So I did. I ran to the shops and picked up my own copy of Vogue's July "Ageless Style Issue" and if I have to be quite frank, there was no other perfect symbol for a timeless classic like Helena. 

Right down from her unique sense of fashion to the passion that she shows when she embraces each of her roles. 

An ape, a gun toting prostitute, a villainous witch right down to Ohpelia In hamlet or the Queen Mother, Helena has provided some of the best on screen characters with such diversity and character you'd be forgiven for thinking that in many ways that there is a little piece of herself in each of the characters that she plays and in the interview she states "I don't agree to do a film because I think it's going to make money. I do it because I think I am going to lean something from the character". 

The 12 page interview called her "Roaring forties" is accompanied by some fabulous gothic style pictures of Helena Bonham carter looking the best she ever has. And just judging by the photoshoot, Helena is at the best she ever has been. Utterly flawless, porcelain skin and high cheekbones. 

During the interview Helena discusses playing different roles all of which are so diverse, her priorities as an actress and a mother as well as what character research means to her and it was after I had finished the interview that I realised that there could be no other person in the world that would have been a better symbol for Vogue's ageless style issue, because over the years Helena has aged perfectly with grace but also still kept her fun and magical spirit through each character that she plays and her daring and bold style that, even though she has taken such harsh criticism for, it is in fact Just so her to be that way. Yes, Miss Helena Bonham Carter truly is a timeless classic for this generation. 

1920's fashion trend and The Great Gatsby Influence

"The Great Gatsby", starring Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio has only just debuted at the Cannes Film festival but already there is a huge buzz not just about the film but the absolutely splendid 1920's fashion that the film portrays. The iconic F.Scott Fitzgerald Novel has been given a make over by one of the most breathtaking directors, Baz Luhrmann, and has seen the 1920's fashion trend soar straight back into fashion.
The legendary 1920's jazz era was known for it's flamboyance and post war fun and to be quite frank, the 20's is definitely one of my favorite fashion era's along with the Great Gatsby novel itself.

I first read the iconic F.Scott Fitzgerald novel in my higher English class a few years back and as huge fan of books and the 20's fashion this particular novel stole my heart. The novel depicts the portrayal of a man known as Jay Gatsby who strives to meet the American dream with extravagant parties all in the hopes of impressing Daisy Buchanan whom he begins an affair with. The underlying tones of infidelity, social upheaval, idealism and also the idea of new money vs old old money is what brings the 20's to life in this novel.
Even though I am still yet to see the film, which will probably include me dragging my boyfriend by the ears to the cinema, I do hope that this recent film adaptation manages to capture all the essentials that has made F.Scott Fitzgerald's novel into a classic. Not to mention I am rather excited just to see the 20's fashion trend light up the big screen.
The 1920's fashion era is not only beautiful but the background of the Jazz era is rather interesting. It was an era that reflects the changes that began to take place in society and in my own opinion was the beginnings of the rebellious women. Forget your classic rebellious teenage female of today's day and age, women of the 1920's were and still are the original female rebellion and that showed through the changing fashions. Women moved away from the restricted corsets that dominated the Victorian Era and opted for dropped waist lines, cut their hair into a bob with finger curls, knee length dresses that would show of their legs whilst dancing and earned themselves a reputation with collectively being known as "Flappers".

So as I have not had the advantage of seeing Baz Luhrmann's "the Great Gatsby" I have heard about the debate of whether or not it will do Fitzgerald's novel any justice, seeing as the novel and Fitzgerald himself managed to flawlessly capture the the roaring twenties along with the emptiness the era provided for those who strive to meet the idea of the American Dream, however you cannot deny that The Great Gatsby remake has spun a 1920's fashion revival and seen the iconic and exciting trend hit the catwalks and the high streets.