Kicks to the head?

Now, think of the number of times an on-screen attack has stopped your breath in your chest.

When each kick has landed with nauseating weight and filled you not with ringside exhilaration but with dread.

In short, how often have you been made to really care about an act of on-screen violence?

I remember watchingRomper Stomperand within the first ten minutes forty people had been beaten up.

I couldnt give a shit about any single one of them.

The same withAmerican History X. Meadows told Film 4in this interview.

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Ambition met, and then some.

Meadows and Turgoose convey Shauns isolation and frustration with the same unshowy realism as his environment is established.

Thats no small feat.

Even more of a revelation is the empathy the film generates for Combo.

Without a hint of apology for his reprehensible attitudes and actions, Combo isnt presented as a simple villain.

On the victim, whose trust in people was as shattered as his body.

On witness, Shaun, whose new father figure had let him down from a great height.

And finally on Combo, whose unforgiveable act felt like the last throe of a life ruled by violence.

It wasnt the last throe, not for Combo or Milky or the rest of them.

WhenThis Is Englandmoved to television, it was turned from a coming-of-age, state-of-the-nation story to an ensemble drama.

Watch the pair of them and its easy to see why.

Gilgun is simply one of the most charismatic actors around.

Put Gilgun in a scene and its hard to watch anyone else.

Unless, it so happens, that anyone else is Vicky McClure.

In88, she was a religious icon; Dreyers Joan of Arc in bovver boots.

Three in particular of McClures scenes reveal her power in the role, all two-handers with another actor.

In all three, shes mesmerising.

More of the cast than just Gilgun and McClure deserve praise.

Michael Socha is a natural as Shauns loudmouth bully Harvey, imported to the gang for TV.

Jo Hartley is similarly so as Shauns wonderful mum, Cynthia.

ThatsThis Is Englands power summed up.

Its TV drama that makes you feel something.

This Is England 90 starts on Channel 4 on Sunday the 13thof September.