STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Ash (James Floyd) is a young British Asian with troubles at home and with his friends, who comes alive following his true passion- mixing tracks in his bedroom at home, and hoping one day to break through in to the big time doing a set at one of London's top clubs. But he is forced to navigate his way through various trials and tribulations, with friends including a potential Muslim extremist and a home life where he comes to know a secret that could shatter his father's position in the family forever.
Director Menhaj Huda has followed up Kidulthood with a film that's received even less publicity and exposure, and probably won't end up with half the cult status. While Kidulthood was hardly a Steven Spielberg film, the small budget here is even more in evidence, especially at the beginning. From the outset, it shows signs of not being half the engaging or powerful story Kidulthood was, but it gradually develops in to a more developed, multi layered story that genuinely keeps you on edge as to how it will work out and how the characters will come out of their various situations.
As well as a varied, multi layered story, the cast also has some impressive additions, chiefly Art Malik, but with a support cast that also consists of the likes of James Buckley, Adam Deacon and Simon Webbe, who variously make different contributions and have various screen time but all variously raise the bar that bit more. ***
Ash (James Floyd) is a young British Asian with troubles at home and with his friends, who comes alive following his true passion- mixing tracks in his bedroom at home, and hoping one day to break through in to the big time doing a set at one of London's top clubs. But he is forced to navigate his way through various trials and tribulations, with friends including a potential Muslim extremist and a home life where he comes to know a secret that could shatter his father's position in the family forever.
Director Menhaj Huda has followed up Kidulthood with a film that's received even less publicity and exposure, and probably won't end up with half the cult status. While Kidulthood was hardly a Steven Spielberg film, the small budget here is even more in evidence, especially at the beginning. From the outset, it shows signs of not being half the engaging or powerful story Kidulthood was, but it gradually develops in to a more developed, multi layered story that genuinely keeps you on edge as to how it will work out and how the characters will come out of their various situations.
As well as a varied, multi layered story, the cast also has some impressive additions, chiefly Art Malik, but with a support cast that also consists of the likes of James Buckley, Adam Deacon and Simon Webbe, who variously make different contributions and have various screen time but all variously raise the bar that bit more. ***