Conventions of Gritty Realism

After experiencing films within the gritty realism genre I can distinguish them from others due to their grainy appearance and realistic settings which aims, and successfully achieves within 'This is England' and 'Bullet Boy', to higher the level of verisimilitude. Gritty realism is a genre of film originating from, and personal to, Britain. Introduced in the 1950s it created an innovative narrative as it didn't have to appeal to mass audiences and instead could create plots that didn't follow Todorov's Narrative Theory.

Gritty realism films often have the tendency to offer a new, internal perspective on an event or lifestyle and is usually made with the intention to offer a moral message to the audience. Within 'Bullet Boy' the culture of gun crime and violence was an aspect that was particularly focused on. Furthermore, by showing the character's desperation to be relieved of a lifestyle that seemed to draw them into danger, whilst disallowing them to escape from a lifestyle they despised, showed how young people's lives are stolen from them as their innocence is tainted by surrounding influences.
As a viewer of the film I felt that the film's moral message was to not make the assumption that people living in similar situations wanted to be in the position they are in and that there is still excess violence existing and that, as the public, we need not stereotype a race. Although I believe the film did have the downside of insinuating it was mainly a particular race involved and therefore failed in a fair portrayal I do think a positive aspect of the film was that it enabled the audience to focus on the action and the trouble young people face everyday and is rarely given media coverage.

'This is England' began with the theme of lack of belonging and the pain it inflicted emotionally, and sometimes physically, on a young boy who was also being bullied. It also showed how, when the main character finally found a place he felt comfortable he was brought into violence. Realistic narratives can therefore exist due to the genre being presented to a niche, British audience where problems within the community can be explored. This is why the message is commonly only attainable by a British audience.