Film Review: Kidulthood

Director: Menhaj Huda

It is the Daily Mail readers worst nightmare all brought together into one film. Written by Noel Clarke, who also plays the role of Sam, it is widely recognized as the film that brought him to prominence in the public eye. The film shows the young characters engaging in violent and criminal activity all whilst attending school in London.

Trevor (Aml Ameen) left

We follow a number of youngsters who are around 15-16 years old, Trevor (Aml Ameen) has impregnated Alisa (Red Madrell) which is the main storyline running through the film. The opening events shows numerous violent episodes as pupils are bullied by older and bigger students, the films events are triggered by the suicide of Katie (Rebecca Martin) who was aggressively bulled and the day of her funeral means the pupils have a day off before a big party that night.

Becky (Jaime Winstone)

The behaviour of the teenagers is supposed to be truly shocking but unless you've been living a sheltered life away from inner-cities it shouldn't come as a shock. The main criticism for the film is that the events take place inside 2 days but realistically show you the violence, drug taking, bullying and general lawlessness that you would see from teenagers in years. There is very little of the reality of teenagers hanging around being generally bored with little to do.

It does a great job of pushing the issue of young offenders and drug takers to the fore, the dilemma of whether they act like this because of their upbringing in the area they live in or because they know they have little future is a poignant one. If more was done to help these people would they change their ways or squander their opportunities? It's a question that is never answered within the film and it is better for having done that.

Sam (Noel Clarke) being threatened by Moony (Femi Oyeniran)

The dislike and yobbish naive behaviour of the teenagers within the film makes it hard for you to root for any of them or feel disheartened when something bad happens to them, you almost feel they deserve their fate at times which is difficult as the plot is slowly unwound. But you can't argue its a tight yet bleak at inner city youth today.

2/4 Interesting topics raised but hard to root for any of the characters or their futures.