Pride (2014)

U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Director:

Matthew Warchus

Writer:

Stephen Beresford (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Schnetzer	...	Mark
Abram Rooney	...	Young Guy
Jim McManus	...	Old Man
George MacKay	...	Joe
Monica Dolan	...	Marion
Matthew Flynn	...	Tony
Andrew Scott	...	Gethin
Joseph Gilgun	...	Mike
Faye Marsay	...	Steph
Freddie Fox	...	Jeff
Lucy Timmons	...	Woman with Little Girl
Jordan Metcalfe	...	Charlie
Roger Morlidge	...	Wardrobe Master
Dean Ashton	...	Young Man
Chris Overton	...	Reggie

Storyline

In 1984 20 year old closet gay Joe hesitantly arrives in London from Bromley for his first Gay Pride march and is taken under the collective wing of a group of gay men and Lesbian Steph, who meet at flamboyant Jonathan and his Welsh partner Gethin's Soho bookshop. Not only are gays being threatened by Thatcher but the miners are on strike in response to her pit closures and Northern Irish activist Mark Ashton believes gays and miners should show solidarity. Almost by accident a mini-bus full of gays find themselves in the Welsh village of Onllwyn in the Dulais valley and through their sincere fund raising and Jonathan's nifty disco moves persuade most of the community that they are on the same side. When a bigot tries to sabotage the partnership with a tabloid smear Mark turns it back on her with a hugely successful benefit concert to which most of the villagers, now thoroughly in tune with their gay friends, turn up. The miners are defeated and return to work but at the Pride march ...

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Plot Keywords:

miner | national union of mineworkers | left wing politics | gay | gay activist | 

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Taglines:

Based on the inspirational true story.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English Welsh

Release Date:

30 October 2014 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Büszkeség és bányászélet

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé, BBC Films, Proud Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While there had been more than 1,000 coal mines in the UK during the first half of the 20th century, by 1984 there were only 173 still operating.

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Goofs

In a scene set in 1984, Joe and his family are seen watching the government TV advert "AIDS: Don't die of ignorance". The slogan was first used in November 1986 and the advert was first shown in January 1987.

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Quotes

[Talking to the receptionist of a Record Company]
Receptionist: There are no gay artists on this label. I'm sorry.
Mark: They don't have to be gay. That's the point. This is a coming together of all different people...
[Phone Rings, The Receptionist Answers and Shoo's Mike and Mark Away]
Mark: [as They Leave the Building, Mark Runs Off to the Side]
Mike: What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?
[Mark is Writing on the Wall Underneath Two Posters]
Mark: That's the number for Gay Switchboard. You never know. One of them might need...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2015)

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Soundtracks

Solidarity Forever
Performed by Pete Seeger
From The Recording Entitled
"If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope and Struggle" SFW400596
Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

User Reviews

There is nothing not wonderful about this movie.

If you don't laugh, don't shed a tear, or don't want to get up and cheer at the end, then you weren't paying attention during this movie. Based on a true story, this is a film about how two unlikely groups came together in the troubling times of the early 80s in the U.K., but in addition to that, there are a lot of side stories that occur at the same time. Excellent character development (especially after the first 20 minutes), which is critical for a based-on-true-life film. The acting is superb. Listen carefully for the deadpan humor the British are known for: especially if you're not used to London and Welsh accents. Highly recommend this movie to anyone who needs a lift and a reminder that *people are good.*