My Brother the Devil

A myriad influences go into making this stylish British gangster tale rather more distinctive than the norm. Though the trimmings of urban drama may seem grimly familiar - young east Londoner Mo (Fady Elsayed) desperately wants to follow his respected, drug-dealing brother Rashid (James Floyd) into a life of crime - the story plays out as anything but. The feature debut of Welsh-Egyptian director Sally El Hosaini handles issues of sexuality and roots boldly, for once actually probing the macho and territorial nature of gang culture rather than simply reflecting it. The plot can't quite escape the moral pitfalls of such a formula, with Mo biting off more than he can chew in his bid to be a bad boy, but the performances, like the direction, are subtle and honest. Also, the look of the film presents the high-rise blocks of the capital's scruffier streets with a refreshing feel, and shows respect for the many races, ideals and aspirations of the people that live there.