Pride (2014)
TOMATOMETER
Critics Consensus: Earnest without being didactic and uplifting without stooping to sentimentality, Pride is a joyous crowd-pleaser that genuinely works.
Critics Consensus: Earnest without being didactic and uplifting without stooping to sentimentality, Pride is a joyous crowd-pleaser that genuinely works.
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Movie Info
PRIDE is inspired by an extraordinary true story. It's the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers' families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union … MoreCast
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Bill Nighy
as Cliff -
Imelda Staunton
as Hefina -
Dominic West
as Jonathan -
Paddy Considine
as Dai -
Andrew Scott
as Gethin -
Joe Gilgun
as Mike
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Critics Consensus: The Boxtrolls, The Equalizer, Fall TV
– Rotten Tomatoes
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Critic Reviews for Pride
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (4)
The film's high spirits are genuinely infectious. And it says something that 30 years after the events it depicts, Pride should feel so unexpectedly rousing.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content7.flixster.com/critic/18/1813_tmb.gif)
Pride overstuffs itself with too many characters and too many subplots, but the impact of these musical moments, along with a stellar ensemble of actors, make this an effective feel-good movie about fighting the power.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content9.flixster.com/critic/22/2263_tmb.gif)
A movie you can laugh along and dance to, and may well become the very first musical in London's West End to bring disco to the grim Welsh coal mines.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content9.flixster.com/critic/16/1627_tmb.gif)
If Pride were a politician, you'd want to vote for it, march for it, and sign up to make calls for it.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content8.flixster.com/critic/16/1610_tmb.gif)
A British version of those old Hollywood films about bigotry that always decried how terrible it used to be in the South.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content9.flixster.com/critic/16/1659_tmb.gif)
A raucous celebration of discordant groups uniting against oppression.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
A likable film more in the spirit of "Footloose" than agitprop. A reminder of the powerful solidarity that was possible in an era far removed from our own ugly, profit-driven world.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
Director Warchus and screenwriter Stephen Beresford create a series of heartfelt moments that work like a well-timed fireworks display.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
Inspiring. Despite a number of one-dimensional characters (especially where the women are concerned) and less-than-subtle directorial flourishes, (the film) succeeds greatly on the strength of its cast and undeniably powerful true story.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
Winning English dramedy has some language, risque moments.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content9.flixster.com/critic/15/1551_tmb.gif)
The characters in "Pride" may exist in a frothy cinematic contraption, but all is not sunshine and roses.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
It's bland as a communion wafer, for the most part, but that at least means it goes down easy enough.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content8.flixster.com/critic/24/2438_tmb.gif)
Much of 'Pride' is about regurgitating cliches from a bygone era of cinema. Two decades removed they no longer seem irksome. Now they're comfort food.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
A real crowd-pleaser, Pride is perfect for this era of broad, largely uncontroversial acceptance of gays and lesbians.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://content6.flixster.com/critic/22/2256_tmb.jpg)
Pride has a lot going for it-and the performances, especially [Bill] Nighy's, bring the film the classiness and nuance it needs.
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20140929060601im_/http://d3biamo577v4eu.cloudfront.net/static/images/redesign/user.none.tmb.jpg)
Audience Reviews for Pride
THE FULL MONTY spawned an entire category of films I like to call the QUAINT ENGLISH VILLAGE MOVIE. It started out great, but then one after the other just kept coming - WAKING NED DEVINE, THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN, CALENDAR GIRLS, BILLY ELLIOT - and while individually good, enough already! So I came to PRIDE with crossed arms and a bitter attitude. Man was I being a dick. This is just a terrific movie, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Based on the remarkable 1984 true story of the infamous Miner's strike in Thatcher England which found unlikely bedfellows in the form of support from a London-based LGBT group, PRIDE is better than its terrible title. Initially I thought it was a documentary about gay pride parades. The actual story is far more compelling than my assumptions. Identifying with the bullying tactics inflicted on the strikers, a small group of gay men and one lesbian take to the streets with buckets to collect spare change.
They are led by Mark (Ben Schnetzer), a very strong-willed, politically astute young man who makes the connection between the two oppressed groups. Although the miners were notorious homophobes, he pushes forward and enlists the aid of his community. They encounter initial resistance from the Union, so instead they engage a small Welsh mining village directly and work hard to bond with the locals.
This is a very large, unwieldy cast and the screenplay by Stephen Beresford is overstuffed with incident, but director Matthew Warchus masterfully juggles all of the balls in the air and creates an emotionally overpowering and lovely cinematic experience. Along with Mark, there's George MacKay as Joe, the closeted newbie who goes on an inspiring hero's journey throughout. Andrew Scott is a true find as Gethin, a gay bookstore owner who must face his Welsh heritage. Closely resembling Mark Ruffalo, Scott gives a fantastic performance as a man who has lived in fear and shame for too long. Dominic West, best known for THE WIRE, shines in a small but crucial role as Gethin's partner.
On the village side, there is none other than the legends, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine and Bill Nighy, who are all very strong, but the heart and soul of this film belongs to Jessica Gunning as Sian, a fierce advocate for her new friends and a force of nature whether she's stomping into police stations or reprimanding her husband for showing any hint of homophobia. I have the feeling, much as I did when I saw TRAINSPOTTING, that PRIDE has the potential to launch major careers with Schnetzer, MacKay and Gunning. These are immensely appealing actors whom you can't help but cheer.
It's not perfect. Not every storyline is resolved. In fact a major one concerning a bitter matriarch and her two gay-bashing sons doesn't even come close. Also, I found it a bit odd that some characters were given WHERE ARE THEY NOW cards at the end, while others didn't get a mention. No matter, as this is a rousing, spirited call to action. There's a non-profit group in existence right now called GAY4GOOD, where its volunteers reach out to other communities to help bag groceries, clean parks, etc. This organization stands on the shoulders of these brave, colorful, vivid activists from 30 years ago. They risked their lives and reputations to stand beside others in need. PRIDE is a crowd-pleasing rallying call. It won't change cinema, but in this troubled world we find ourselves in, changing hearts and minds is more important.
Super Reviewer
Perfection.
Super Reviewer
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