292:
England to West Indian parents. He has difficulty relating to his brother who was not born in Europe, while he also cannot relate to his White friends, who do not share his obstacles in
England. Tony's brother feels that all Whites are evil. Tony comes to his own conclusions based on his experiences, declaring that since only a handful of White people hold all the power, many White people are in the same position as Black people, but just do not realise it.
42:
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brother is active in the Black Power movement and is constantly discussing how Black people are treated as second-class citizens, and have to deal with systematic racism. He stresses the idea of a collective effort on behalf of Black people, as they encompass their culture and consciousness and they must spread this consciousness.
489:: "It has the punchy quality of a 21st-century graphic novel, eagerly tackling Black Power and social realism, mixing comedy, tragedy and irony....The film's reappearance may be a madeleine for the 70s, but it's also a reminder that the pressure Britain's black communities have withstood hasn't subsided."
291:
In addition to this, throughout the film, Tony cannot find a job that matches his educational qualifications. Events such as this bring to light the forces of oppression, and lead to Tony's disillusionment with an unjust
English society. Tony also struggles with his identity as a Black child born in
427:
riots, I get very annoyed with the media coverage. It is so superficial. They don't do proper research. That is why I made
Pressure (1978). I was tired of reading in the papers about young Blacks hanging around on street corners, mugging old ladies. Nobody tried to find out why they were doing it."
287:
Tony goes dancing with a White friend and then goes back with her to her apartment. A White adult screams that if he does not leave she will call the police, and that the White girl should feel ashamed for bringing back a Black boy. When Tony attends one of his brother's meetings, he witnesses the
279:
The film shows how the older generations are satisfied with living in a society ruled by the White
English, which differs from the views of the younger generation. There is a disconnection between the way Tony feels about Britain and the way that his family feels, specifically his brother. Tony's
283:
Tony's brother emphasises how Black people must organise politically to deal with the situation themselves, given that the government is not on their side. Tony tries to assimilate into the White-dominated society that surrounds him, as well as to fit in with his own family and their traditions.
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is a product of its time, but the issues and themes it explores remain relevant to the black experience in
Britain today, including the cycle of educational deprivation, poverty, unemployment and antisocial behaviour. The depiction of police harassment and the controversial
255:, it is hailed as the UK's first Black dramatic feature-length film, and has been characterised as "a gritty and dynamic study of a generation in crisis". Ové said in a 2005 interview: "What Pressure tried to do was to portray the experience of the
275:
in the
Caribbean. This affects the family members' viewpoints about the society they live in. Tony's mother says that they, as Black people, must work hard, mind their own business and respect White people's laws because the Whites have the power.
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mistreatment of Black people firsthand. Police forcefully enter the meeting with no warrant or reason, and beat up and arrest the Black activists. Police then tear apart Tony's family's home, in search of non-existent drugs.
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However, even as Tony tries to assimilate and maintain his faith in a
British society where he can progress, he is continuously faced with obstacles.
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was re-released in a restored version in 2023, with a joint restoration World
Premiere taking place on 11 October at the BFI
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405:' policy of today. The film also explores media under-reporting and misrepresenting of black issues and protests. ...
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teenager, born and raised in
Britain. The rest of his family—his mother, father, and older brother—were born in
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remains a key Black
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803:"Brand new trailer for Pressure. 4K Restoration in UK/Ireland cinemas 3 November | BFI"
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s list of 10 pioneering films reflecting black life in Britain over the last 40 years.
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842:"Pressure review – pioneering story of living with British racism retains its power"
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701:"'We have to study you in order to survive': Horace Ové on Black and white Britain"
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435:, Ové became the first Black British filmmaker to direct a feature film. In 2017,
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574:"An Interview with Horace Ove – Film-Maker 7/09/08. The Boy from Belmont"
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377:(BFI), ostensibly because it contained scenes showing police brutality.
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398:
629:"Horace Ové discusses a film that shocked with politics and technique"
590:"The British Connection – Great films from the Queen's Jubilee years"
785:"From Pressure to The Last Tree: 10 of the best black British films"
925:"Black Pioneers - The early history of Black filmmaking in the UK"
473:. It also featured the following month in a retrospective at the
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The film was shelved for almost three years by its funders, the
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Raising the Bar: 100 Years of Black British Theatre and Screen
563:, BIMI (Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image), 21 May 2018.
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as the 42nd-greatest British film of all time. It also topped
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of the work of Horace Ové (who died in September 2023), when
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was well received critically. According to Julia Toppin,
757:(Horace Ové, 1976) - The 75 best British films ever made"
259:, the kids who came with them and the kids born here."
401:
is echoed by the similar, and equally controversial, '
536:"Amplify Black Voices: An introduction to Sam Selvon"
818:"A Landmark of Black Cinema, Restored for a New Age"
561:"Introduction to Pressure: A Tribute to Horace Ove"
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649:"Ové, Horace (1939-), Director, Producer, Writer"
945:"The Politics of Food in Horace Ové's Pressure"
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805:. BFI. 29 September 2023 – via YouTube.
727:"ScreenTalks Archive: Horace Ove on Pressure"
8:
932:"British Film Appreciation: Pressure (1975)"
413:Ové said in a December 1987 interview for
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31:
1025:Films about racism in the United Kingdom
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322:Sheila Scott-Wilkinson as Sister Louise
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514:British Board of Film Classification
955:"Pressure, Conflict and Creativity"
627:Kelly, Eamonn (26 November 2005).
572:Leonard, Josanne (22 March 1009),
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1020:Films about immigration to Europe
419:: "When things happen here, like
816:Hans, Simran (27 October 2023).
699:Paskin, Sylvia (23 July 2020).
27:1976 British film by Horace Ové
783:Clark, Ashley (19 June 2020).
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1015:English-language drama films
1000:1970s English-language films
267:Tony is a second-generation
385:After its release in 1975,
319:Lucita Lijertwood as Bopsie
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578:Trinidad and Tobago Review
46:Original theatrical poster
251:. Co-written by Ové with
168:19 October 1976
39:
863:"Shooting Black Britain"
304:as Anthony "Tony" Watson
705:Sight and Sound archive
934:, Entertainment Blog,
471:New York Film Festival
411:
399:'sus' (suspicion) laws
375:British Film Institute
362:Corinne Skinner-Carter
1035:Films shot in England
416:Monthly Film Bulletin
467:London Film Festival
191: (United States)
155:Crawford Films, Ltd.
131:Alan J. Cumner-Price
18:Pressure (1975 film)
1030:Films set in London
1010:British drama films
1005:Black British films
995:1970s British films
927:, BFI Screenonline.
879:"Don't Talk Black!"
868:Index on Censorship
840:(2 November 2023).
542:. 17 September 2020
328:as Police Inspector
257:Windrush generation
971:, 3 November 2023.
823:The New York Times
516:. 22 November 1976
381:Critical reception
231:is a 1976 British
183:November 1976
943:Hope Cunningham,
887:, 21 August 2005.
675:"Pressure (1975)"
358:as C.I.D. Officer
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16:(Redirected from
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610:. Retrieved
606:
603:"Horace Ové"
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540:Scottish Pen
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518:. Retrieved
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235:directed by
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200:Running time
29:
963:BBC Radio 4
737:27 November
711:27 November
612:27 November
592:, FilmClub.
469:and at the
350:John Landry
346:as Preacher
308:Oscar James
245:Oscar James
204:136 minutes
101:Oscar James
81:Produced by
52:Directed by
985:1976 films
979:Categories
493:References
237:Horace Ové
233:drama film
172:1976-10-19
137:Production
123:Mike Davis
68:Horace Ové
62:Written by
56:Horace Ové
520:9 January
481:wrote in
334:as Junior
128:Edited by
910:Pressure
899:Pressure
755:Pressure
731:Barbican
508:PRESSURE
487:Pressure
463:Pressure
443:Pressure
433:Pressure
407:Pressure
394:Pressure
387:Pressure
316:as Lucas
310:as Colin
273:Trinidad
228:Pressure
217:Language
89:Starring
35:Pressure
913:at the
871:, 2007.
768:5 March
684:20 July
658:20 July
576:. From
441:ranked
425:Brixton
423:or the
369:Release
220:English
209:Country
187:1976-11
185: (
170: (
139:company
546:5 July
485:about
176: (
753:"42.
707:. BFI
510:(AA)"
452:'
431:With
904:IMDb
770:2018
739:2020
713:2020
686:2016
660:2016
614:2020
548:2023
522:2015
296:Cast
263:Plot
247:and
178:TIFF
917:'s
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