I am writting and esay on this film and Ken Loach in relation to realsim. If anyone reads this please let me know your opinion on how 'realsitic' the film is in any way you feel appropriate. It is a extremly debateble subject i am struggling to find a definate answer if ther is one at all.
shareIts good, but IMHO, not 100% realistic.
The privitisation, with constant re-branding, and less and less staff is spot on. I've done the exact same job with 6 different companies - go figure the efficiencies of that one.
The forged track safety cards is right - that did happen, and led to a new scheme being inttoduced.
The work the guys seemed to carry out was blurred. They seemed to be a Signal and Telecom Installation team, but in the end they carried out Permanent Way type duties. This is why i don't say its 100% realistic.
I agree with the majority of tengsted's post.
However the last sentence, they only went on to pway for one shift on contract, I believe this was used to demostrate that during this time nobody really cared what you used to do. Everything else they did was related to Signalling.
I'm in the industry but wasn't around during this period but from what I;ve heard it's very acurate. Infact if they got rid of the pointless love interest part which was never really developed then you could almost say it's a documentary.
I was also surprised to see in the credits that Jarvis helped, those in the industry will know why
It's pretty realistic I think. Only the choice of characters is a bit surprising. No one is really pissed of losing his job and no one is on the way of getting an alcoholic. The main point of the movie is to show how a change in working conditions changes yourself a lot. You have have not even morals at the end when a pal of yours was dying.
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They don't give you the leads, they don't give you the support, they don't give you dick. (Dave Moss)
As an Ex Rail Worker i can say it is pretty realistic. The humour the people are more or less spot on. To go from being British Rail to contracting and doing anything was a shock to the system for anyone who has been doing the same thing for years. The only thing i thought was far-fetched was keeping secrets from the competitors. Everyone knew everyone on the railway and people moved from place to place to where it was convenient to where you lived and how the money was. So if you did ever see anyone you would find out the situation and would then be classed as gossip. The way they went on i am surprised they didnt get everyone to sign the official secrets act.
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