This is Enlgand (2006)

 A story about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983. He becomes friends with a group of skinheads that become his like family. Based on experiences of director Shane Meadows.

One of the things that stood out about this movie to me is Thomas Turgoose, who plays a Shaun, a 12 year old boy who's father was one of the Falkland casualties. This is Thomas's first major acting role and it is really hard to believe. He is outstanding as he progresses throughout the film from a lonely boy who is struggling to fit in, to a skinhead who's maturity is pushed way above his age.

The other actor I really enjoyed in this film was Stephen Graham (Snatch, Public Enemies). He plays a skinhead fresh out of prison who comes back to recruit his old friends into a revolution to "take back England".  He see's Shaun as a younger version of himself and takes him under his wing.

The film is carried by strong performances, which director Shane Meadows crafts very well. The film is based on Shane's experiences and it really comes out in his directing.

The only part of this film that I did not like was how the movie ended. It seemed to leave a lot of questions unanswered. We see how things change for the lead character but it feels like there are a lot of characters that are built up, just to see them leave one scene and never come back again.

Overall I really enjoyed this film, and would recommend that people check it out.

When to Watch Rating: Indie Film Mood
Available on Netflix Instant View