- Film Review
- Reviewed By Jeremy Aspinall
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3 out of 5
A troubled teenager on a rough south London estate comes to a crossroads in his life in writer/director Sam Holland's stylish first feature. Lee Turnbull plays Justin, a teen tearaway with a wretched home life (brutal, unloving father; sick, bed-ridden sister; estranged mother) and a group of feckless friends, led by gobby and volatile Tommy (Greg Wakeham). However, Justin is tired of gang fights, drug dealing and police confrontations and yearns for something better than a life of endless ducking and diving. With echoes of La Haine (also shot in crisp monochrome) and Scorsese's Mean Streets (Wakeham's unpredictable Tommy is a dead ringer for De Niro's Johnny Boy) though not in their class, Holland's debut still has a lot going for it (convincing performances, magnificent sound design, distinctive music). It's a disturbing reflection of life on a high-rise battleground, but Turnbull's anguished and moving portrayal of a youth desperate to escape a road to nowhere, gives the film real heart.
Plot Summary
Drama starring Lee Turnbull, Greg Wakeham and Kyle Treslove. South London teenager Justin leads a life of crime, violence and drug-dealing with friends Tommy, Sean and Billy. He's looking for a way to change, and sees a chance to escape, but Tommy's drug debts threaten to drag him deeper into danger.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Justin
- Lee Turnbull
- Tommy
- Greg Wakeham
- Sean
- Aaron White
- Billy
- Kyle Treslove
- Suzanne
- Kathryn O'Reilly
- Marcus
- Michael Maris
- Donna
- Annie Burkin
- Danny
- Ashley David
- DCI Knowles
- Paul McNeilly
- PC Darwin
- Dickon Tolson
- Charlie
- Richard Pryal
- Vince
- Nick Bartlett
- Darren
- Jay Brown
Crew
- Director
- Sam Holland
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