MovieChat Forums > Made in Britain (1982) Discussion > Trevor really a neo-nazi?

Trevor really a neo-nazi?

posted 15 years ago by Badwolf57
12 replies | jump to latest

Besides the fact that he expresses racism and is moderately nationalist, I don't see his personal ideals reflected in Nazism. I'm definitely no expert, but isn't Nazism a totalitarianism dominated movement? Wouldn't this conflict with Trevor's utter abhorrence to authority and the state's insistence of societal assimilation and obedience? He seems more like an anarchist, with more than a hint of nihilism in his actions, especially when it comes to his complete disregard of private property, personal space, and governmental law, not to mention his lack of morality. Unsympathetic to others and unmotivated by responsibility, his only incentive is to serve himself by furthering his own interests (which consists of mostly pissing off others and acting out). Like I said, I’m no expert on these political factions and their specific ideologies (so if anyone wants to correct me, be my guest), but Trevor seems to have more in common with ideals of anarchy, rather than Nazism.

On a further note, does Trevor's racism seem very sincere to anyone? I mean if he were really dedicated to it, why would he have Errol follow him around like that? I'm sure there were a few other white delinquents he could of got to follow him around. It seems a bit contradictory.

[–] enfieldboy 15 years ago

Back in the 70's/80's the Skinhead subculture was pretty big and a lot of those skinheads were racists/Nazis although a lot of them were not particluarly politically minded.

heres a clip from skinheads marching, aparently it is from a British Movement march.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HH5BRqaPZ8&feature=channel_page

[–] Anglo-Saxon-937 14 years ago

I think he had the swastika on his head more out of frustration and shock-value. He could tell he was different and saw the world differently and that was his way of fighting back.
I doubt a true National Socialist would have a black boy follow him round even if the black boy himself was just as racist!

[–] Tarquin_Q_Zanzibar 8 years ago

Very few of the youths attracted to neo-Nazi groups like the BNP, NF and EDL are motivated by ideology; it's more that they can indulge in acts of extreme violence and instead of being condemned, the groups encourage and condone their actions. Most of these kind of youth eventually tire of violence, and without any real ideological attachment, leave these hate groups. This I think is why youths are always a disproportionately large number on the streets, in demos etc, but their actual membership of right-wing political parties is very low.

"You've got lovely eyes Dee-Dee, never noticed them before, are they real?"

[–] mark_lucas 14 years ago

I wondered if the movie intentionally chose not to focus on it. After the first car theft he chooses to leave Errol behind. Simply says “they’ve been seen together, he’s off to see some mates”. Makes you wonder where he goes after that scene, who his mates are? But I didn’t get the impression the character was clued up, with a crew or politically motivated in the least either. Was just war makeup. Latching onto a scene at the time.

[–] mf_boom 14 years ago

Yeah I didnt see him as a nazi, just an angry angry boy. He treated everyone the same, hated everything the world offered him, because the world offered him nothing. The scene when he looks at the 'ideal' home in the shop window is the most telling!

So I see it as shock value, a one fingered salute to the world. He came across as an intelligent guy, and knew what would piss people off the most. As you say an anarchist would be the best description.

[–] vtseg 14 years ago

Well they use a black friend to highlight the incoherence and inconsistency of his youthful rebellious ideas. The racism, despite his use of certain racist phrases, isn't particularly pronounced.

[–] tomosp1965 9 years ago

I agree. Trevor is a mixed up kid and I think he found (has he got older), that there is more to life than hate. I was in care and prison, plus I hated everyone. As I got older, I realised that all my prior beliefs were stupid. I was a 'Skin', I thought other 'Skins' were my friends, then I went to prison and realised they weren't friends at all. I am glad that I was incarcerated, as it made me confront my whole belief system. As, like in the film 'American History X', most of the friends I had in jail were black.

[–] dee_pee 12 years ago

"Unsympathetic to others and unmotivated by responsibility, his only incentive is to serve himself by furthering his own interests" this is basically the opposite of anarchism. Do some research please, or else we'll end up using generic labels that don't mean anything. Anarchism is all about mutual aid, simpathy, responsibility and acting for the common good. Whether it is actually realistic or naive/utopian is another matter. Trevor is CERTAINLY not an anarchist, even though anarchism as a philosophy would certainly equip him with an incomparably more coherent and constructive critique of society than his angry nihilistic neo-nazi ramblings...
Trevor is a product of Thatcher-era individualism and the dismantling of community ties and welfare state. Having said that, I have absolutely no simpathy for him - there was still some choice left for him no matter how limited, and he knowingly chose the path of self-ruination. There are many, many people just as disdvantaged and just as aware of how rotten the system is, who do not suck up to authorities and who do rebel aginst the system but still don't end up as hateful little nazi *beep*.

[–] ShanerMD 11 years ago

So, in other words, you're no different than the useless social workers at the assessment center.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] fawltybasil (249) a year ago

I don't even think he knew.