I have never watched a documentary about England or Britain that bored me this much before. I've watched ones that didn't cover topics I was interested in, but I had never before watched one that covered topics I liked and made me bored until this one.
People talked about things more than they showcased them in the documentary. They could have done more voiceovers and still showed the events or places. But instead it was mostly inside with people sitting down and talking.
And there were too many shots of cars. Show me the English countryside. Show me London. Show me Scotland. Or Wales. Why am I looking at the inside of a small room at a person in a chair?
Plot summary
This unique and cheeky documentary explores Britain and what makes our country great from our traditions to our self-deprecating sense of humour.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
November 14, 2022 at 04:08 AM
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Boring
Quintessentially London
This doc had the potential to be 10 stars. Unfortunately, the film didn't stick to the title. There was no history, no visiting cities outside England, ridiculous interviewees, and too much political preaching. A drag queen at Chelsea? A clueless young man wearing a silly English flag coat? Actors as expert commentators? No explanation or discussion of British Tea except that it came from China? No mention of Rugby? No discussion of English comedy?
The doc shined with the hat, coat, suit, shoe, and umbrella stores that have been in existence for generations. Watching the tradesmen creating the products was amazing.
There were subtitle hints at political leanings early but the last 30-40 min was almost unbearable. We get it. The film creators were made up of anti-Brexit supporters and non-straight men. This is when the doc felt VERY American - Too much underlying preaching, liberal judging, and pushing the ideal that everyone white is a racist.
This was a very Posh Liberal Londoner perspective.
Stereotypical portrayal of English high society
There is nothing 'British' about this documentary at all. It does not reflect modern British life and what the average English, Welsh and Scottish person thinks about being part of the union of nations we call Britain. This is simply another collection of mostly privileged people from southern England who give their take on what makes that island so special. From hereditary peers in the House of Lords to the owner of one of Englands finest shoemakers, this ticks all the boxes to have the average American think we are an island of prudes. I heard the words 'English' and 'England' as much as I did Britain. With no interviews and footage in either Wales and Scotland, and only a 30 second glimpse of the Pennines in N England this can hardly be described as a British documentary. Boat clubs, St George's crosses and English castles/palaces - it truly serves to help cement our reputation as a nation of toffs. Every viewer should understand that todays Britain is vastly different from the one shown in this documentary, starting with the fact that we don't all live in south east England.