Brotherhood

Noel Clarke writes, directs and stars in the conclusion to his "hood" trilogy which kicked off in 2005 with Kidulthood and continued in 2008 with Adulthood following the exploits of west Londoners Sam (Clarke) and Curtis (Cornell John). While the first film was attention-grabbing in its portrayal of gang life, Brotherhood is a more accomplished piece of true Brit film-making. It's less edgy, less "street" than its predecessors, but then, so is its principal character. Sam has put prison and being a bad boy behind him and now has kids of his own and a wife (Shanika Warren-Markland) to think about. But crucially, she's a lawyer who earns more money and respect than he does which makes it all the more difficult for Sam to stay settled and out of trouble. Inevitably and quite brutally, his past comes back to haunt him in the shape of Curtis who remains ruthless in his pursuit of revenge for the crime that put Sam in prison years before. The film could be seen as glamourising the violence that ensues, but the nightmarish spiral Sam falls into is just as vividly portrayed by Clarke whose energy and ingenuity as a film-maker should be commended.