Pride (M) 3.5 stars
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This is another in the line of likeable plucky British underdog comedy-dramas. It's based on the true story of a group of London gay and lesbian activists who decided to raise money in support of a Welsh mining village during the 1984 miners' strike.
Mark (Ben Schnetzer, an American actor trained in Britain and sporting a very convincing accent) is the leader of Gays and Lesbians Support the Miners but they find it hard to be accepted by any of the villages they offer to help. But finally one agrees and they're invited for a visit, cueing culture clashes, suspicion and eventually (mostly) acceptance.
There's a large, excellent cast including Dominic West as veteran gay campaigner Jonathan, his younger lover Gethin (Jonathan Scott), and George Mackay as young Joe, who is still in the process of coming out. In the village, veterans like Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton provide strong support. The fact that the focus is divided among a lot of characters means some stories are inevitably better dealt with than others, but it does help to keep things interesting.
It's not an especially gritty or sexually explicit film, obviously aiming for mass appeal, but it works well as entertainment. Extras include a commentary and featurettes.
RON CERABONA