Politics in the most recent years in Britain has faced pivotal changes and developments. In the 2010s, these changing economic and ethical attitudes emerging post-new labour government have been showcased in films by contemporary British directors.
Sally Potter's films highlight some of the most topical debates in Britain today; class divisions, healthcare and equality are 3 main examples. One of her most recent works, The Party (2017), is one which manages to discuss all of these.
The film is set during a celebration of our protagonist's (Janet's) election as Labour Shadow Minister for Health; therefore there is an undeniably direct political reference given to us as a plot device. The health problems for Janet's husband Bill, the malice towards the couple's wealth from Tom as well as the logistical difficulties of a lesbian couple all contribute to the littering of politically charged undertones aimed at the recent climate in the UK. Potter's use of comedy through these characters and their abnormal scenarios harks back to the British comedy seen in the 1980s, which "was a combination of Pythonism, satire and politics" in a time where "demographic and social divides in British comedy were as keen as ever" (Hunter & Porter, 2012, p. 5). This included television shows such as The Young Ones (1982-1984) which featured characters who were emblematic of particular political standpoints.
In the case of The Party, Gottfried is one such example. His spiritually whimsical manner is one that proves him unhelpful within the film's tense conflicts and therefore a character "whose emptiness echoes the current crisis in European liberal democracy" (Mayer, 2017, para 3). Other characters in the film include Tom who supposedly works in finance; this person is easily the most violent, murderous and opinionated in the film's set up which is arguably a choice made by Potter. I believe that Potter wished to insult the capitalist ways of today's society by having a character embody the negative aspects associated with the practice.
Sally Potter herself has claimed in interviews that her film is "absolutely a political statement" and it is one about a "broken England". Being a British woman aged 68 upon release, I believe Potter had sufficient license to comment on the politics of past and present in the United Kingdom. Something that undeniably adds to the current and well-accepted political unrest is the Brexit vote which happened after Potter finished writing the film however took place during shooting. Although there are no references to the EU referendum in the film, Potter claims she was "listening to the grumblings and groanings" while writing.
The final product comes off as more overtly than not a political film. Political arguments around the NHS for example are exhibited by the characters who all display quasi-archetypal British middle class attitudes of today whether it be April's post-feminism or Bill's declining socialist principles. Potter, herself very much a socialist thinker, is poking fun at the political right as well as showing us a divided group. The characters in The Party symbolise the middle class in Britain and so having them heavily dispute and disagree effectively reflects the state of the nation today post-Brexit with poignant accuracy.
Bibliography:
Barber, N. (2017, October 12). In 'The Party', a Portrait of a U.K. divided by 'Brexit'. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/movies/the-party-movie.html
Connolly, K. (2017, February 13). Interview - Sally Potter: 'The Party' is the opposite of Brexit. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/13/sally-potter-the-party-berlin-interview
Eurozoom (2017). The Party - avec Cillian Murphy - Au Cinema le 13 septembre. [Youtube Video]
Hunter, I.Q. & Porter, L. (2012). British Comedy Cinema: Sex, Class and Very Naughty Boys. In I.Q. Hunter & L. Porter (Eds.) British Comedy Cinema. London: Routledge
Mayer, S. (2017, October 17). Film of the week: The Party skewers politics in black and white. Sight and Sound Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/party-sally-potter-skewers-politics-black-white
Potter, S. (Director/Writer). (2017). The Party [Motion Picture]. United Kingdom: Adventure Pictures
Barber, N. (2017, October 12). In 'The Party', a Portrait of a U.K. divided by 'Brexit'. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/movies/the-party-movie.html
Connolly, K. (2017, February 13). Interview - Sally Potter: 'The Party' is the opposite of Brexit. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/13/sally-potter-the-party-berlin-interview
Eurozoom (2017). The Party - avec Cillian Murphy - Au Cinema le 13 septembre. [Youtube Video]
Hunter, I.Q. & Porter, L. (2012). British Comedy Cinema: Sex, Class and Very Naughty Boys. In I.Q. Hunter & L. Porter (Eds.) British Comedy Cinema. London: Routledge
Mayer, S. (2017, October 17). Film of the week: The Party skewers politics in black and white. Sight and Sound Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/party-sally-potter-skewers-politics-black-white
Potter, S. (Director/Writer). (2017). The Party [Motion Picture]. United Kingdom: Adventure Pictures