What I See

Nearly a decade the film "American History X" brought Nazi Skinheads to the forefront of the American imagination Alan Clarke's "Made In Britain" told a story that the people of Britain knew all too well. The Film follows Trevor, a young, unapologetic, racist, skinhead living in Britain in 1982, at the height of anti-immigrant sentiment in England.

The film opens with the screaming guitar of The Exploited's "UK82" playing as we see a close up of Trevor's expressionless face. As if seemingly moved by the music, Trevor aggressively shoots up out of his seat and begins to saunter down a hallway, followed by a group of me in suits. The camera stays with the close up of Trevor as he makes his way through several hallways. This lets us know not only that Trevor will be our main focus but also paints of picture of the way Trevor lives his life, alone. The way Trevor carries himself, the expression, or lack there of, on his face, and the swastika brazenly tattooed in between his eyes all come together to give us Trevor, an antisocial, brutal thug, who doesn't compromise the way he feels for anyone. We can see all this before any words are even uttered in the film.

The music cuts out abruptly and we go from the close up of Trevor's face to a shot of a police officer describing Trevor's crime of throwing a brick through an immigrant shop keepers window. The shot pans from the officer to Trevor who is leaning back rather comfortably. When the judge asks Trevor "You do not invite leniency do you?" he simply replies, "No". It's at this moment "UK82" comes blaring back onto the soundtrack accompanied by strong block letters displaying the title of the film "Made in Britain". The film goes on to go back and forth between Trevor being absconded in the courtroom with no soundtrack, to a few more credits, song blasting. This finally gives way to Trevor walking out of the courthouse with the exact same attitude and expression on his face, as if he hadn't just been found guilty in court.

The juxtaposition of these two very different series of sights and sounds shows the dichotomy between Trevor (and youths just like him) and society which is explored in depth later in the film.