Best of the 'British New Wave'

After viewing all the films that can clearly be addressed as the 'British New Wave', I would certainly have to suggest that The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is indeed the greatest of the lot.

Although the story may sound less extravagent than that of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, This Sporting Life or A Taste of Honey, this film benefits from being made during the height of the period. Tony Richardson's confidence with the camera and with his characters is quite evident here. There is almost something masterful and it feels entirely like it is committed to celluloid rather than from borrowing stage techniques of acting and direction.

The acting is superb and the clautrophobic feel of the borstal is intense. Most beautiful however is the way Tony Richardson filmed the exterior shots of the long distance running, the beauty of the scenes is tangible.

In all, a tremendous effort.