Made in Britain (1981)

82% of users liked it
(4,667 ratings)

Director Alan Clarke's influential television drama Made in Britain marked the screen debut of actor Tim Roth. Roth plays Trevor, a skinhead with a swastika tattoo on his forehead who lashes out verbally and sometimes physically at everything that surrounds him. Cinematographer Chris Menges (who… More Director Alan Clarke's influential television drama Made in Britain marked the screen debut of actor Tim Roth. Roth plays Trevor, a skinhead with a swastika tattoo on his forehead who lashes out verbally and sometimes physically at everything that surrounds him. Cinematographer Chris Menges (who would go on to win Oscars for his work on The Killing Fields and The Mission), gets his camera right in Roth's snarling face, as the film tracks Trevor's progress through the British justice system. In the courtroom, charged with attacking a Pakistani man and vandalizing his store, Trevor displays absolutely no remorse as he matter-of-factly admits that he knew the man would have to be hospitalized for his injuries. Trevor's social worker, Harry (Eric Richard), recognizes Trevor's intelligence, but he's running out of ways to convince Trevor to straighten out his life. Harry takes him to a juvenile detention center for "assessment," after which he'll be sentenced. Trevor immediately dismisses Peter (Bill Stewart), the put-upon supervisor of the center, as a "wanker." He meets his black roommate, Errol (Terry Richards), whom he quickly convinces to come out with him on a car-stealing, glue-sniffing, job-center-vandalizing day trip. Brazenly returning to the detention center in a stolen car, Trevor eventually provokes Peter into locking him in a classroom, so a police superintendent (Geoffrey Hutchings) can harangue him about the hopeless path his life is taking. Trevor refuses to accept the center's (and society's) standards for "good behavior," raging that they all just want everyone to follow the rules and keep their mouths shut. The script was written by David Leland (Wish You Were Here) and the songs on the soundtrack are by the anarchist hardcore band the Exploited. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Alan Clarke
Written By: David Leland
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: Feb 25, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Feb 28, 2006

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

A great first film for Roth, its powerful and honest! Much better than Made in England!
Film C

Made in Britain, Brilliant it captivates some londoners true love for britain there own country and how people feel about foreigners and Tim Roth played the part fantasticulary he was excellent this movie is funy with tim roths witty back chat and just an enjoyable film to watch,… More
Made in Britain, Brilliant it captivates some londoners true love for britain there own country and how people feel about foreigners and Tim Roth played the part fantasticulary he was excellent this movie is funy with tim roths witty back chat and just an enjoyable film to watch, although the ending just seems to abrupt and for a very short movie of just 1hr 11mins i think the ending should have been better! but this movie is really worth a watch especially if your a tim roth fan!
Lady D

Long before Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Tim Roth stars in this drama about a British skinhead racist that is anti-authority and heading for a path of self-destruction. A good early performance by Roth, but lacked in gritty storyline ? it?s certainly not a ?This is England?.… More
Long before Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Tim Roth stars in this drama about a British skinhead racist that is anti-authority and heading for a path of self-destruction. A good early performance by Roth, but lacked in gritty storyline ? it?s certainly not a ?This is England?. 2.5 STARS ROTH/BRITISH
Eric B

Wow. America doesn't get made-for-TV movies like this one. This was Tim Roth's first role, and he comes out blazing with his portrayal of Trevor, a belligerent skinhead who's constantly on the edge of lashing out. Unsurprisingly, he is repeatedly in trouble with the… More
Wow. America doesn't get made-for-TV movies like this one. This was Tim Roth's first role, and he comes out blazing with his portrayal of Trevor, a belligerent skinhead who's constantly on the edge of lashing out. Unsurprisingly, he is repeatedly in trouble with the law, and the plot chronicles his final, defiant steps over the line in setting his life permanently off course. The mood is a bit one-note, unfortunately. There is little insight into what makes Trevor behave this way, and he's presented more as a raging animal than as anyone to empathize with, or at least understand. No characters are likable on either side of the fence, and the script is less a morality play than a resigned look at England's deteriorated society. Meanwhile, the dialogue may include more usages of "wanker" and "bollocks" than any other film in history. About a third through the story, there's an absolutely brilliant scene in which a police case worker gives Trevor an incisive, flowcharted lecture on a blackboard about the poor choices he has made. It is spectacularly written and delivered, and the actor practically steals the movie away from Roth. [Note: The Flixster entry says Robbie Coltrane appears in "Made in Britain," but if so, he must be some easily overlooked extra. And this is not listed among his IMDB credits.]
Ed Fucking H

Tim Roth gives an incredible debut performance here. This film centers around a 16 year old skinhead and juvenile delinquint who enjoys throwing bricks through immigrants windows, stealing cars, huffing glue and fucking with the authorities. I suspect that this movie was trying to say… More
Tim Roth gives an incredible debut performance here. This film centers around a 16 year old skinhead and juvenile delinquint who enjoys throwing bricks through immigrants windows, stealing cars, huffing glue and fucking with the authorities. I suspect that this movie was trying to say more about the correctional system in Britain at that time, than about makjing a comment on youth cultures, as the fact that Roths character happens to be a skinhead is almost besides the point. The characters complete disregard for his own future are do to his attempts and living outside of the system that is laid out before him. While he does seem to be a racist I'm not sure how commited he is to this ideology as his actions seem to be an attempt on his part to break out of the routine of school, work, family, god, queen, country etc. Anyways a very grim character study with terrific performances, the standout being Tim Roth. Definently recommended.