Shows & Movies Like The Price of Coal

Description: A seminal British New Wave film about a rebellious youth from a working-class background who finds temporary escape through running. The story critiques the class system and institutional control over individuals.

Fact: The title comes from Alan Sillitoe's short story of the same name. The film's finale, where the protagonist deliberately loses a race, became iconic in British cinema.

Description: A gritty drama about a coal miner who becomes a professional rugby player, exploring themes of class struggle, violence, and the exploitation of working-class athletes. The film's raw realism captures the harshness of industrial life.

Fact: This was Richard Harris's breakthrough role, earning him his first Academy Award nomination. The film is considered a key work of the British New Wave cinema movement.

Description: A stark portrayal of working-class life in Manchester, focusing on a unemployed father's desperate attempts to provide for his family. The film's naturalistic style and focus on economic hardship resonate with similar themes.

Fact: Director Ken Loach cast mostly non-professional actors to achieve authenticity. The film won the Jury Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

Description: This film explores the struggles of working-class communities facing industrial decline, focusing on a colliery brass band as a symbol of resilience and solidarity. The narrative blends humor and pathos to highlight the human cost of economic hardship.

Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which also performed the music for the soundtrack. It was released shortly after the UK's last deep coal mine closed in

Description: A comedic yet poignant look at unemployment and masculinity in post-industrial Sheffield, where a group of laid-off steelworkers turn to stripping to make ends meet. The film addresses economic despair with humor and heart.

Fact: Despite its modest budget, the film became the highest-grossing British film at the time. The title refers to the British slang term for complete nudity.

Description: Set against the backdrop of the 1984-85 UK miners' strike, this film portrays a young boy's pursuit of ballet dancing amidst societal and familial pressures. It captures the tension between tradition and personal ambition in a struggling industrial community.

Fact: The film's success led to a stage musical adaptation, which premiered in London's West End in 200Jamie Bell, who played Billy, had no formal ballet training before being cast.

Description: This TV drama examines football hooliganism as an outlet for working-class frustration and identity. While violent, it provides insight into the social tensions and tribal loyalties in depressed urban areas.

Fact: Gary Oldman's intense performance as the charismatic gang leader Bexy was highly praised. The film was originally made for BBC's Screen Two series.

Description: A radical drama about dockworkers who stage a sit-in after being made redundant, imagining a worker-led socialist revolution. Its uncompromising look at labor struggles and worker solidarity aligns with similar narratives.

Fact: Directed by Ken Loach for BBC's Wednesday Play series, it was controversial for its sympathetic portrayal of worker militancy. The title refers to the workers' revolutionary aspirations.

Description: Set during WWII, this film explores the relationship between an aging actor and his loyal dresser, revealing the struggles of maintaining dignity and art in difficult times. The backstage drama mirrors the resilience of communities under pressure.

Fact: Based on Ronald Harwood's play, which was inspired by his own experiences as a dresser for actor-manager Donald Wolfit. Both Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay reprised their stage roles for the film.

Description: A political drama set during the Falklands War, examining media manipulation and middle-class hypocrisy. While more focused on journalism, it shares themes of societal disillusionment and personal compromise.

Fact: The title refers to a pub meal that was actually a 1960s marketing invention, symbolizing the film's theme of fabricated truths. It was one of the first British films to address the Falklands conflict.