This is England: Poster Analysis

• The main photograph used for this poster is one which includes what we can only guess are the main protagonists. This appears to be the most important element of the poster, so the text included is carefully placed through the use of an established image to text ratio in order for it to not distract the audience. All of the characters are dressed in a very similar way most likely connoting that they are part of the same group or even that there may be a theme of gang culture portrayed within this film. Most of these characters appear to be in their youth (older teens - young adults). The dress sense further conforms to the time they are trying to set the film in which is the '90s. Most of the characters are white and there is only one black person which appears to be the only one looking away. This, and his costume ( he seem to be dressed in a slightly smarter way) could show that there is also an element of discrimination portrayed in the film from that time period. All the characters are closely placed together, as previously mentioned this could suggest that they are within the same group of friends. The white males in this group all appear to have a low hair cut suggesting that they are all part of the skinhead group. We are therefore lead to think that the black male also has the same type of hair cut although this isn't visible to us as he is wearing a hat. This and the fact that all of the males are wearing Dr Martens supports the idea that they are part of the same of a skinhead group and this is because Dr Martens was the footwear associated with skinhead subculture. Most of the protagonists' mode of address is straight forward, acknowledging the audience possibly making them an active one, feeling like they are part of the narrative. This especially appeals to the older audience members who possibly remember or were a part of that time.   

• The films title is placed above the main characters of the film and starts and ends where the characters are standing (the length is the same), this could again connote to the viewers that this film is about these particular characters as they are in line with the title. The main protagonist, despite being the smallest one in the group of people in the photograph and that it looks like he's being squeezed between the taller characters he still stands out. This is because he is placed in the middle and the body language of some of the characters that are towards the ends are facing inwards. This again suggests that he has a very important role within the film and could possibly have a lot of power despite his age and physical appearance (size, height etc). 

• Through the use of the colours of the British flag in the title of the film, this immediately lets the viewers get an idea of what the film is about and suggest (along with the directors name) that it is a British film. To further enhance this, the directors name is placed in text which looks handwritten (it is placed between the title and main image) suggesting that the director may have put in a personal experience or thoughts in the film. This is also successful because it attracts an already established audience which will most likely know and like his previous pieces of work. The title is in block capitals in order to stand out and has been manipulated to look like it is graffiti written on the metal fence they are leaning against again linking to the time where people that were part of the subculture were know as being quiet rebellious. 

• The slogan 'Summer 1983, A time to stand out from the crowd' allows viewers to see which time period the film is set in while also enabling them to get an idea of the themes and features covered throughout the film. This could also suggest these characters on the poster are trying to set themselves apart from everyone else and be individual. Furthermore, reviews and awards that the film has won or has been nominated for are placed on the top part of the poster (on the sky which is a clear light blue, connoting freedom as it is a calming colour) as this doesn't distract from the main photograph and what the audience members are meant to be focusing on. For example, the characters and the location which can help further establish the narrative of the film. This helps attract an audience as they then expect it to be a film worth watching.

• The glimpse of the top of the buildings in the background are put in place to further establish the location the film is set in if the viewers of the poster may have been uncertain. This along with the fence they are leaning against could suggest that the film is set in an urban area of England which could possibly be one of the main scenes or settings of This is England. 

• The films website link, the credits of cast and crew, distribution and production companies are all laid out in smaller text of the colour white, this is visible however, not a lot as it is placed where the pavement part of the photograph is so it doesn't really stand out against the dark grey. This is allows viewers to gain more information and knowledge of the film if they choose to do so. 

• The colours use in this poster all link very nicely and complement each other. As a whole this poster is very effective and although it is simplistic it includes the most important elements giving enough information to the targeted viewers of the film poster and seems to work very well as a whole.