Shane Meadows is one of the brightest talents in British cinema and perhaps the most important filmmaker of his generation. Born in Uttoxeter, Meadows grew up in Nottingham and the city's estates and suburbs have provided the themes and locations for all his work to date. Following a series of notable shorts, Meadows came to prominence with his feature debut "TwentyFourSeven". A remarkable tale of redemption starring Bob Hoskins, the film demonstrated Meadows' ability to work with limited budgets and talented non-professional actors and his flair for larger than life characters attempting to escape their humdrum existence.

Based on his own childhood experiences, "A Room For Romeo Brass" maintained a similar balance between comedy and tragedy, expertly blending a naturalistic sensibility with moments of pure if gritty poetry and social realism. A segue into darker territory, the revenge thriller "Dead Man's Shoes" displayed the same attention to character and milieu. It also cemented Meadows' relationship with the astonishing Paddy Considine and offered evidence of an inspirational use of music.

Arguably the director's masterpiece, "This Is England" is both a compassionate consideration of British values and an angry observation of Thatcher's ruinous legacy. A resounding commercial success, it finally brought Meadows the mass audience he richly deserves.

*Region 2 DVD