PRIDE

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

It’s a surprise that this story hasn’t been told before – it is based on true events although does not tell the story accurately. The themes that PRIDE explores are significant and show some of the incredible prejudice and oppression that lesbians and gay men experienced in the 80s. It also drives home the fact that, when groups of diverse people get together and support each other, great things can happen.

However, while the themes are significant, the movie isn’t great. At times, it is hard to resist the good-natured humour and feel-good moments. But overall, PRIDE tries to pack too many stories into the one movie, follows too many characters, and eventually becomes bogged down in trying to include just about every cliche possible in a nice uplifting experience. It feels too long and at least 30 minutes of its 2hr running time could have been safely removed.

Despite it’s flaws, it does get its message across – it just could have been done in a lot better way.

Wait for the DVD.

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