The Close – What Life in the UK is Really Like

If you are thinking of settling in any of the nations of the United Kingdom, then you are probably aware that you will have to take the Life in the UK test (which assesses applicants’ knowledge of British history, values, laws, traditions, and everyday civic responsibilities for citizenship).  However, I would advise you to watch this, as it is more informative about what really goes on here. So, instead of learning about Welsh Christmas traditions, or what the Scots do at Easter – or any of the other things that most of the people who were born in the UK don’t know about either, learn from this animated short instead.

The Close, by Birdbox Studio (and here hosted by the BBC) takes a close look (ah, couldn’t resist it) at everyday life in an average British street.  There’s the mum trying to get three dogs and a kid organised (sorry, that’s three kids and a dog), the grumpy old lady next door, the bashful teenagers, the one-night-standers, the randy decorators, the middle aged cyclist who really shouldn’t be wearing lycra, the home-worker with homicidal kids, the fellah who has a strange idea about masculine ideals. They’re all here. And so is the American interloper, the grey squirrel, who just wants to climb a tree but doesn't look like he has passed any tests for that recently.  Put these elements together and you will get a real impression of what life is like on a quiet British street.  Of course, like anything else British, behind the calm exterior there is usually just sheer chaos.

Hats off to writer and director Ant Blades and the team for creating something so funny and memorable. So, rip up your Life in the UK book and watch this instead.  You still might not pass the test, but at least it won’t have cost you fifty quid. And you might have learned something useful.