Ah Great Britain, we’re a brilliant nation, aren’t we? Once we were an Empire, built on the backbone of pillaging, slavery and exploitation. Ah yes, Great Britain. Now what I believe makes our country great today is our diversity, swarms of races and sexualities have been birthed and homed here, giving us a spectrum of backgrounds untied in solidarity. And yet a few people seem to perpetuate the notion of white, straight folk bigotry and all that nonsense. The backlash of LGBT cinema pouring into our nation swells with the importance of uniting, together, everyone against regimes that may tie us down. And no film, in recent years will make you proud to be British more so than Pride.

Based in the height of Thatcherist Britain, Pride tells the true story of LGBT activist Mark and his band of protesters in 1984. When Mark gets wind of the miners strikes and institutional bullying they are facing, he decides that his team need to support their cause because they are being belittled by the same government belittling them. Though many organisations refuse to take their donation, a small mining community in South Wales happily welcome them into their village as a show of arms. With strong will and determination, this new union is campaigning back but the presence of an LGBT team ruffles many feathers in the community and soon they see an incensed backlash against them.

Headed by a phenomenally British cast, this incredible gem of cinema has a collection of the finest talent this nation has to other. Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, George McKay, Andrew Scott, Dominic West and so many more charm, emote and charge forward in such away that you invest in all of them. They each convey fully realised characters that come together for the plight through their struggles as well as poignant witty moments. Not one name on the expansive list is weak, the talent pulls together for the depth of the story and their characters. It must be said though that relatively unknown Ben Schnetzer (previously seen as Max in The Book Thief and if that shocked you as much as it did me, you know how terrific he is here) as Mark is astonishing, being the face of the film. Schweitzer is absorbing in Mark’s headstrong journey he sensitively and astutely creates much more than just an activist here. He is unforgettable.

Gleefully, Mark Warchus weaves a phenomenal and emotional picture, that ardently and aesthetically clashes two cultures though pallets, setting and tone. But really, teaming up with Stephen Baresford script the film is much more about portraying the underdog and oppressed folk of both the LGBT and mining community with tact, courage and fully realised characters. The crux of Pride lies in its story and message. Provoking a variety of emotions, though the film may be tinged in entertainment and hilarity (there a many, many funny moments), the visceral aspects are undeniably strong. While never saturating or preaching, the films essence is about understanding and unity through strife. Though the scourge of humanity are indeed rife that will encourage a sea of rage in you, it is very much a celebration of the unity found in protest. There is a fire burning within Pride that’ll overcome you, that what these people went through and what some continue to go through is wrong. Warchaus makes sure that impact hits right.

It’s clear that a review about this film and it’s contents simply cannot end without mentioning the powerful remnants it leaves behind. If anything, it should highlight the urgency to stand together with your fellow man when times of hardship hit. Too long we have lived in hate, prejudice and mindless apathy. This nation is a strong one made of thousands on differences. This movie joyfully gives reason for togetherness, it strips away the boundaries and becomes about the essence of humanity; love, compassion and empathy. If this film could, not only entertain but change your view point and give you flames to speak out then it has done what it should do. This is, without doubt, one of the best films of the year.

Pride is a film Britain should be proud of.