Tears of laughter: Comedy-drama in 1990s British cinema Comedy-drama in 1990s British cinema

Nigel Mather examines the interactions of comedy and drama in three vital thematic strands of British cinema during the 1990s: comedies exploring issues of class, culture and community in British society, "ethnic" comedy-dramas engaging with complex issues of identity and allegiance in modern Britain, and romantic comedies featuring characters searching for a suitable and desirable partner. Films to be discussed in detail include Brassed Off, The Full Monty, East is East, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and a post-1990s romantic comedy, Love Actually.

Nigel Mather teaches at the University of Kent.