Watch Pride

Pride is a heart-warming, comedy-drama movie from 2014. Directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Stephen Beresford, it features a talented cast including Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Dominic West. The film is set in the summer of 1984 during the UK miners' strike, which lasted for a year and led to the closure of many coal mines across the country. In the midst of this tumultuous time, a group of lesbian and gay activists from London form an alliance with a mining community in Wales. They share a common goal: to fight against the Thatcher government's policies of austerity, which left many workers struggling to make ends meet. At the heart of the story is the character of Mark Ashton (played by Ben Schnetzer), a young gay activist who forms the group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) after seeing news footage of miners being attacked by police during a protest. With the help of his friend, the irreverent artist and performer Jonathan Blake (played by West), Mark organizes a fundraising event to support a group of miners in a small town in Wales. But the group's initial attempts to make contact with the miners are met with hostility and suspicion. Undeterred, LGSM head to the Welsh town of Onllwyn in a battered minibus to personally deliver the money raised from their event. They are met by the town's union representative Dai (played by Paddy Considine), who initially meets them with skepticism but eventually becomes their ally. As they become more involved with the miners, LGSM members begin to learn about the struggles of working-class people in the mining communities, and the miners become more accepting of the group's support. The film is full of touching moments as the two groups form an unlikely bond, despite their differences. Meanwhile, back in London, the group's activism attracts the attention of the authorities, and they face persecution and intimidation. The film highlights the homophobia and prejudice that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced during the 80s, but ultimately it is a story of hope and perseverance. The film's cast is excellent, with standout performances from Nighy and Staunton as two members of the Welsh town who are initially opposed to the group's presence but gradually come to accept them. There are also some great comedic moments, particularly from West's character and from Andrew Scott, who plays a flamboyant member of LGSM. The film's setting in the 80s is brought to life through excellent attention to detail, with period-accurate fashion, music, and locations. The cinematography is also excellent, particularly in scenes depicting the natural beauty of Wales. Overall, Pride is a heartening and uplifting film that celebrates the power of community and solidarity in the face of adversity. It is a tribute to the activists who fought for LGBTQ+ rights during a difficult time in history and highlights the importance of bringing people together, regardless of their differences.