Rude Boy

Dir: Jack Hazan, David Mingay

1980

****

Rude Boy was - and is still - one of the more compelling films of the punk era. It is very much filmed with a punk ethos, very much a DIY production which gives it a sense of authenticity, as well as a documentary/neo-realist feel. It follows Ray – played by non-actor Ray Gange, who leaves his dead-end job working in a Soho sex shop and becomes a roadie for the Clash after talking to members of the band in his local pub. Filmed between 1978-1980, it documents the unrest in society as the Labour party collapses and the Conservatives take power. I always saw Margeret Thatcher as the enemy of the Punk movement – and she was largely – but Rude Boy shows just how detached many punk fans were at the time, many uneducated and easily convinced by the right-wing. Ray is something of an example of the youth of the day, they had little going for them, no jobs, no money, no future. They were angry and mislead. The Clash were at the forefront of the anti-right wing movement, other bands differed and remained subjective – many weren’t political as such, they were also angry with their lots and everyone was to blame. No one was fighting for them. The Clash highlighted injustices, they called out the establishment’s racism and fought for everyone’s civil liberties as best they could. They were convinced by Jack Hazan and David Mingay of the film’s credibility but were underwhelmed and angry of their portrayal once the film was completed. I can see that, a lot of what they believed in was tarnished, although they come across rather well. I still go to gigs today though and watch left-leaning bands alongside right-wingers who don’t listen to the lyrics, they just seem attracted by the loud noises. Ray Gange was also upset at his portrayal, not so much of the character but because his name wasn’t changed everyone assumed he was ignorant, alcoholic and a nasty person. It is a fascinating and frustrating film to watch but an amazing document of a movement and an era. Joe Strummer later said in an interview that "We didn't like what they were doing with the black people, because they were showing them dipping into pockets and then they were shown being done for something and that was their only role in the film ... Who wants to propagate that? That's what the right wing use, 'all blacks are muggers' which is a load of rubbish. After that rough showing I've never seen it since and nor have any of the Clash."He further added that the band had no further contact with directors Dave Mingay and Jack Hazan after the film was shot, and never received any payments from them. It’s amazing that even though the directors wanted to show something for what it really was, they still ended up conforming to the prejudices of the day. It will certainly appeal to those that follow politics as it captures the turmoil of the time brilliantly, its amazing, sad and familiar though that even though their fans were loyal, many of them were still right-wing. You can see the same sort of thing happening today, particularly in the UK. History repeating itself, it’s just a shame there aren’t more bands like The Clash around today.