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Pressure

Play trailer Poster for Pressure 1976 2h 0m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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A young black man (Herbert Norville) in England endures discrimination despite his best efforts to blend in with white society.

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Pressure is vigorous and rough-hewn and Ové lays down the broad brushstrokes with compulsive energy. Rated: 5/5 Nov 2, 2023 Full Review Hanna Flint House Notes Ové powerfully presents a cross-section of Black perspectives – and the tensions those differing ideas provoke. Nov 13, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (10) audience reviews
Stephen C Very much of its time but also still relevant in today's climate. Anthony is a bright and clever lad fresh out of school and looking for a job , trouble is this this is late 70s London and racism and discrimination are prevalent and the police can pick you up on suspicion of commiting a crime The film shows how the firstborn of the Windrush generation struggle to be heard and kick back against the servitude of their parents This would of course culminate in the 1981 Brixton riots and director Horace Ove has his finger firmly on the pulse of the race experience of then and now. A vital British film Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review Audience Member The first british film by a black director. It feels like a time capsule from the mid 70's. Just two years before star wars, britain was a pretty racist place. A intelligent and promising young black man finds life a struggle after leaving school, despite a good education and significant efforts to find a job. Something needs to change. Authorities are against him but there seems to be hope present in the young. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atos5QqgxBk Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Vivid, only occasionally heavy-going account of African Carribean experiences of Britain in the 1970s. Much interesting material on the cultural shift from the original post-WW2 generation of immigrants and the younger generation now native to Britain. It begins as an even-handed study and gradually takes sides - with good reason. Slightly too didactic to work as a whole for me, but an urgent, interesting piece of filmmaking all the same. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member British film, and the first feature length film ever made by a black British film-maker, about the experience of being black and coming of age in the 70's, when racism was overt and egg and bacon was a healthy start to the day. Made on a budget, its a little rough around the edges, but still an engrossing film, mostly due to the excellent performance by Herbert Norville as the lead character Tony finding his place and beliefs in a world that is intent on choosing them for him. It was controversial in its time (banned by the BFI for two years) but would barely flicker an eyelid if shown on TV now. This is a good thing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Very well made film for a first time director tackling the realities of life in the 70's for young black men. So many elements of this film seem to have inspired British film-makers in the years following it from Alan Clarke to Shane Meadows that I am astounded Pressure is such a seemingly forgotten film Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Pressure

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A young black man (Herbert Norville) in England endures discrimination despite his best efforts to blend in with white society.
Director
Horace Ové
Producer
Robert Buckler
Screenwriter
Horace Ové, Samuel Selvon
Production Co
BFI Production
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
2h 0m