Contents
Last updated on the 1 April 2024 by Evandrus
Community Driven British Films
Those quintessentially British films that we love to watch cosied up on the settee.
The Bookshop (2017)
In a traditional coastal town, a free-spirited widow decides to open a bookshop, bringing a breath of fresh air with progressive literature. However, her endeavour faces opposition from a wealthy local resident who desires the same location for their own project. As the widow fights to keep her dream alive, the townspeople rally behind her, forming a unique community centered around her love of books.
Top cast: Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Patricia Clarkson, Hunter Tremayne, Honor Kneafsey, James Lance, Frances Barber and Reg Wilson.
Bank of Dave (2023)
Based on a true story the film follows the journey of a self-made millionaire who hails from a working class background. He endeavours to establish a community bank that can provide much needed support to local businesses in his town. However, he faces numerous challenges as he takes on London’s financial institutions and competes for the first banking license issued in over 100 years.
Top cast: Rory Kinnear, Joel Fry, Phoebe Dynevor, Jo Hartley, Hugh Bonneville, Paul Kaye, Cathy Tyson, Florence Hall and Naomi Battrick.
Greenfingers (2000)
A gruff inmate in an open prison discovers a hidden talent for cultivating flowers. With the help of a wisecracking mentor and a group of fellow inmates, he takes charge of a prison horticultural program, transforming a barren patch of land into a vibrant garden. As they nurture life and beauty, the inmates confront their pasts and find a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
Top cast: Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, David Kelly, Warren Clarke, Danny Dyer, Adam Fogerty, Paterson Joseph and Natasha Little.
East Is East (1999)
In 1970s England, a Pakistani immigrant father struggles to raise his large, British-born family with traditional Pakistani values. The clash between generations and cultures explodes as the children, increasingly westernised, resist arranged marriages, religious expectations and their father’s iron grip, leading to humour, conflict and a complex journey of identity within the family.
Top cast: Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge, Archie Panjabi, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Jimi Mistry and Raji James.
Made In Dagenham (2010)
Set in 1960s England, a group of female factory workers who sew car upholstery fight for equal pay with their male colleagues. Led by a determined woman, they take a stand against the company’s discriminatory practices, sparking a national conversation about gender equality and inspiring a wave of activism that ultimately paves the way for legal change.
Top cast: Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson, Geraldine James, Rosamund Pike, Andrea Riseborough, Jaime Winstone and Daniel Mays.
Kinky Boots (2005)
In a failing shoe factory, a young owner on the verge of closure stumbles upon a niche market. He partners with a flamboyant drag queen in need of sturdy high heels, and together they create a line of dazzling boots for men. Despite initial resistance and mockery, their collaboration leads to unexpected success, forcing them to confront prejudice and redefine ideas of masculinity.
Top cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton, Sarah-Jane Potts, Nick Frost, Linda Bassett, Jemima Rooper, Robert Pugh and Ewan Hooper.
Calendar Girls (2003)
A group of middle-aged women in a British village social group seek to raise money for a worthy cause. To raise eyebrows and funds, they hatch a daring plan: a nude calendar featuring themselves. Despite initial shock and disapproval from their community and families, the women find strength in their camaraderie and stand by their decision. Their act of defiance and humor brings them closer together, raises awareness for their cause and challenges societal expectations of beauty.
Top cast: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, John Alderton, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Philip Glenister, Celia Imrie and Geraldine James.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
Lured by promises of luxury and affordability, a group of British retirees embark on a new chapter in India. However, upon arrival at the faded grandeur of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, their expectations are dashed. As they adjust to the vibrant culture, unexpected friendships blossom and they discover new opportunities for love, purpose and a zest for life that defies their age.
Top cast: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup and Celia Imrie.
The Lost King (2022)
Driven by a belief in King Richard III’s misunderstood legacy, an amateur historian defies the skepticism of experts. She embarks on a personal quest to locate his burial site, facing ridicule and doubt. Her perseverance leads to a remarkable discovery that rewrites history and sheds new light on the maligned king.
Top cast: Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan, Harry Lloyd, Mark Addy, James Fleet, Lee Ingleby, Adam Robbie, Benjamin Scanlan and Amanda Abbington.
The Last Bus (2021)
After his wife’s death, an elderly man embarks on a sentimental journey across Britain using only local buses. Carrying her ashes, he travels from the north to the south, reminiscing about their past and encountering a cast of characters along the way. His odyssey, fueled by grief and a promise, becomes an unexpected media sensation, bringing him solace and a renewed connection to the world.
Top cast: Timothy Spall, Phyllis Logan, Grace Calder, Alex Ferns, Celyn Jones, Sheila Reid, Natalie Mitson, and Ryan Quinn-O’Neill.
Honourable Mentions
Finally some British films that didn’t quite make the list. The links take you to their Wikipedia pages.
The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain (1995)