Brighton Rock (2010): Representation of a Sixties Teen Relationship?

After watching the 2010 version of Brighton Rock, I asked my Girlfriend “What did you think?” She replied “Why was Pinkie so mean to Rose?” This made me think about the dynamic of relationships in the sixties. Whether the dynamic of the couple in the remake really reacts to the era that it is set. The novel by Graham Greene is set in the 1930’s. The original film produced in 1947. These both display and try to evoke the ideas of a true gangster story. The film noir version with David Attenborough does this especially. Rowan Joffe, director of the 2010 motion picture tried to reinvent the story, placing it in a 1960’s Brighton.

 

 

 Although the film has many different elements to the original story. Including the background story of the Mods and Rockers. There is one element of the story that cannot separate itself from the originals. Rose and Pinkie. The couple dynamic of self-conscious girl and egotistical, slightly sociopathic gangster. The subservient ideals that are upheld in the remake, make for an odd comparison to what we know about the sixties. The relationship dynamic has changed at this time. Young adults at this time are starting to experiencing new fashion, listening to subculture music and experiencing a generational gap with their parents. This is missed entirely in the film. The story does not seem to match up with its new era.

Upon first meeting Rose, Pinkie encounters a timid girl who cannot articulate herself in front of him without dropping things or looking at the floor to avoid eye contact. This first meeting, although slightly chivalrous when Pinkie asks Rose to go out, is very awkward and seems a little backwards for the time. After which the first date, turns Rose into this completely subservient Character. Pinkie is anything but Chivalrous. He treats her with no respect. Firstly by walking off, we see Rose practically sprinting to catch up with him. Secondly, openly shouting at her in the middle of Brighton Pier. Not particularly liberal for the sixties.

Their relationship goes from talking about the eternal damnation of hell and the unlikelihood of a heaven existing. To Pinkie trying to scare the living daylights out of Rose by nearly throwing her off of a cliff. This is almost so far fetched for the sixties, when Pinkie records a record for Rose in a booth on Brighton Pier. She stands at the window smiling as she can clear see him slandering their relationship, but fails to be able to lip read. In truth, the relationship does not seem to have moved on from the original.

In essence, it seems to me quite improbable that during a time where teens are much more politically orientated. Rose cannot seem to see that Pinkie is not treating her right, shes simply subservient to his male domination. Whilst all the other characters seem to be much more liberal. Even Rose’s Boss Ida, who, despite being much older than the female protagonist, still is much more liberal when it comes to relationships. Openly listing off her not serious “gentleman friends”. It is not inconceivable that Rose is perhaps just a shy teen, not politically motivated, but for me, her surroundings in the story don’t match her lust for a chivalrous relationship in the film.

Tom Wisden