British Film Forever — Season 1, Episode 3: Hardship, Humour and Heroes: The Story of British Realism

Episode synopsis

There was a revolution in British film at the end of the 1950s: working people and the realities of their everyday lives started to appear on the big screen. Hardship, Humour and Heroes traces the evolution from Billy Liar to Billy Elliot via Saturday Night Sunday Morning, Kes and Trainspotting. Featuring original interviews with Ewan McGregor, Jamie Bell, Rita Tushingham, Malcom McDowell, Phil Daniels, Danny Boyle and Johnny Vegas - as well as the directors who have shaped the genre: Ken Loach and Mike Leigh.

About British Film Forever

Running for seven weeks from July 2007, each week focused on a different genre, examining British film by genre. Presented by Jessica Stevenson the series featured over 200 exclusive interviews with leading actors and directors including Sir Michael Caine, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Guns, Gangsters and Getaways: The Story of the British Crime Thriller
• E2Longing, Loving and Leg-Overs: The Story of British Romance
• E4Corsets, Cleavage and Country Houses: The Story of British Costume Drama
• E5Magic, Murder and Monsters: The Story of British Horror and Fantasy
• E6Bullets, Bombs and Bridges: The Story of the War Film
• E7Sauce, Satire and Silliness: The Story of British Comedy