Emily Smail

Codes and conventions of Social Realism films:

Location Shooting

Social Realist films are filmed in real life places, not in a studio. By filming in a real life familiar place it makes the scene feel more alive as the audience will know a place like this, therefore can relate to it. For example, in a popular social realism film Fish Tank, the first shot of her is on a council estate. 

 

Actors that aren't proffesionals

Social Realist films use unknown actors for two reasons. Firstly, having an unknow actor/actress means the audience cannot associate them with another film they may have been in, which adds realism to the film. Also, most social realism films cannot afford for big actors to star in their films. For example, Katie Jarvis, the star of Fish Tank was spotted at a train station arguing with her boyfriend when she was asked about the role. 

 

Seriousness and humour

Social Realism films must balance the right amount of seriousness and humour into their films. They deal with everyday working class issues like unemployment or family troubles but somehow figure out how to weave humour into the story. 

 

Dramatic and emotional indivisual stories

It is common for social realism films to focus their story on one indivisual and the film charts that protaganists journey to achieve their goals in the film. 

 

Wide shots 

Although like all film, social realism films use a variety of camera shots, the most commonly used is wide shots so the audience know what is happening and then can understand what is to follow.