Young Nazi and Proud is a British documentary about our most odious political 'party', the British National Party or BNP. Most people here in the UK are very well aware of the parties extreme right-wing views and their links with violent groups such as the National Front, and with that in mind would probably rather vote for Maggie Thatcher again. Although the party is generally thought to be very weak, it does find support in impoverished areas and areas which are used to house immigrants and asylum seekers, taking the line that "Why are we so poor? It's cos of them, coming here, stealing our jobs, etc." which can be effective, as we see in the film. The documentary concentrates on the rising young star of the BNP, Mark Collet ("One of natures live wires", as says party leader Nick Griffin), an economics graduate with a passion for Nazi Germany, metal machine music and computer games. We see him graduate, leave home, become an official member of the party, run for MP and give a speech at the annual BNP BBQ; with unintentionally hilarious remarks about 'Dreadlocked white slags going out with blacks' and how our ancestors were hunting woolly mammoth while 'the black man' was still swinging about in the trees - cue lots of cheering and hooting from a frankly terrifying group of skinhead, swastika tattooed grunts. Throughout the film the journalist interviewing him remains quietly sceptical and offers many opportunities for Mark to explain his views, but it isn't until the end of the film that we get some clear answers from Mark. When the camera is on he's preaches the standard BNP stuff about how asylum is crippling the country, increasing crime and generally removing the integrity of a once proud nation, but turn it off (or tell him its turned off...) and it's a whole different story. The guy's views are based almost entirely on prejudice and are frighteningly racist. His knowledge of history and geography is often confused or just plain wrong, and it's his ignorance that had led him to assume the BNP are right. He even goes as far to say he'd rather his children grew up in Nazi Germany than in his home town, something he is questioned about at the end when the journalist confronts him over his racist comments. Mark is initially outraged and then clearly upset that the film makers lied about the camera being off, but agrees to answer some questions after quitting the party via mobile phone. In an incredibly tense scene we have the interviewer (who by this point was actually quite close to Mark) admitting his Jewish ancestry, to which Mark replies 'I had an inkling you were a Jew'. It's pointed out to Mark that the man is as white as he is and in fact Mark's relatives had commented on how similar they both looked, Marks answer? 'I'm not a Jew!'.
Mark ended up staying with the party, breaking up with his girlfriend as a result. He appears in another documentary by the BBC, a bit more grown up and clearly still fishing for Nick Griffins job (who else would want it? Griffin was sent to prison after being secretly filmed at a rally making openly racist comments!). But this slice of investigative journalism is really something special, showing us an amazing insight into this twisted party, the journalist comments 'its less of a party and more a gathering of individuals who find a sense of belonging here'. It's sad but hilarious at the same time and my God does it make you think...
10/10
Mark ended up staying with the party, breaking up with his girlfriend as a result. He appears in another documentary by the BBC, a bit more grown up and clearly still fishing for Nick Griffins job (who else would want it? Griffin was sent to prison after being secretly filmed at a rally making openly racist comments!). But this slice of investigative journalism is really something special, showing us an amazing insight into this twisted party, the journalist comments 'its less of a party and more a gathering of individuals who find a sense of belonging here'. It's sad but hilarious at the same time and my God does it make you think...
10/10
