Kidulthood Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Before adulthood comes...
A day in the life of a group of troubled 15-year-olds growing up in west London.
| Aml Ameen | Trife |
| Noel Clarke | Sam |
| Adam Deacon | Jay |
| Femi Oyeniran | Moony |
| David Ajala | Desmond |
| Richard Angol | Short Dred |
| Tom Burroughs | Hamish |
| Sam Callis | Security Guard |
| Stephen Da Costa | Rupert |
| Toby Dantzic | Shop Assistant |
| Ortis Deley | Derek |
| Alexander Hanson | The Manager |
| Nicholas Hoult | Blake |
| Sushil Hunjan | Nisha |
| John Cornell | Uncle Curtis |
5.30 out of 10 (2667 votes)
Visitor Reviews
How it is..
posted on 28 Aug 2009A brilliant film if at times sensational but only perhaps in the eyes of the kids.I grew up amongst graffiti artists and pretty criminals - got mugged, wore clothes to denote my 'crew', suffered immense peer pressure and basically completely identified with much of this film. This is how it is for many kids growing up in the UK, today and twenty years ago. Now kids have mobiles, computers and more opportunities than i had some 20 years back but the vibe is the same - the fear when you go out, the not knowing if you're going to get mugged or stabbed.What is brilliant about this film is the texture and true backdrop of London, UK. We need more films like this
Boyz N The Council Estate
posted on 12 Aug 2009This film isn't anything too special. It has realistic dialogue. As a film about London 'chavs' there is a lot of 'innits' and 'izzits' and people calling each other blood. If you live in America and get the chance to see this you will find it hard to understand. The plot is thin. It's 90 minutes of Youths in hoodies talking about sex and fighting, having sex and fighting. Sounds entertaining? Not really. This it is slightly predictable at times, but I won't give you any spoilers. Noel Clarke (Better known for his role as Mickey in Doctor Who) gives a pretty good performance but it is sorried by the over emphasis of stereotypes the rest of the cast brings forward. Although there is a kind of humour to it, but it's hard to pass off at a drama at points. If you are looking for a close to realistic look at teenage life in London this is the one for you. If you are looking for something more, stay clear.
Good film - absurdly low rating
posted on 12 Aug 2009Like one of the other reviewers on this site I am going to vote 10 out of 10 for Kidulthood to try to redress the anomaly of its incredibly low score. Something is surely wrong with the IMDb system when most of the reviews on the site are positive yet the film has such a low rating. Anyway I thought Kidulthood was a very realistic 'urban streetkids' film which captured perfectly the style, speech and violence that happens every day around London's inner city schools. I thought the acting was absolutely fine especially considering the age of most of the actors - have those criticising the actors actually seen the way that teenage kids behave because I think they were all very believable. The film was tense, violent and gripping and is a nice London take on the issues of teenage gang violence.
A frighteningly depressing London life for teenagers
posted on 08 Aug 2009A bold and brave film, that never pulls any punches. A group of teenagers living very negative lives see the suicide, due to bullying of a school friend and the schools closure as an excuse for a day out the streets. Some of the characters are implicit in her fate, but refuse to see their culpability. Utterly selfish and shallow, many may think that these kids deserve nothing from society they abuse at every turn. Its adults who despise and are frightened by them are mere counterpoints throughout the film. An English version of KIDS but without the horrible voyeurism?? Do these kids deserve better from society? Do they a represent a threat to society itself? These kids may be horribly violent, disrespectful, but are incredibly believable. They cannot see outside the confined personal friendships and conflicts, but we are left with a genuine sense of loss and despair at the end of the film. A remarkable and striking British film
voted 10 to aid the 're-balance' of this film's rating
posted on 02 Aug 2009I actually think this film deserves a rating of 7.6 at least. But at the time of voting I've noticed far too many votes of 1-rating, ultimately destroying the overall vote to approx 3.3?So, here's my '10' vote - which I never would do 'normally'. Let's hopefully get this film represented with a true rating. I mean, come on people, does this film really deserve to lie in the same bed as 'In the mix' or 'You got served'? (I'm aware by comparison those films I've just mentioned are of a different genre but thats not the point)I think the 'difference' between myself and others who may watch the film is that some may have a movie-going-instinct to want to 'root' for someone. I believe this is one of those movies where there aren't any 'heros' as such. There isn't a specific character to 'root' for. It's a story told 'how it is' - an urban story, if you will.I think it would have been a lesser film if i were 'made' to feel (by the director/writers) that I should root/cheer for a particular character. But that, along with some other aspects of this film, is what makes this a better film than say, Bullet Boy. Its not trying to promote or drive a 'message' to the viewer in a hard-sell fashion. With hindsight, I think the entire film would have had less credibility had it done so.On the other hand, I'm aware that because of lacking of a 'hero/heroin', some viewers may have been left with very little to 'enjoy', relate to, or even 'believe' that this is what life can be like for many teenagers across London. The 'grimey' life of London is not quite 'on the map' yet as how Compton(Los Angeles,USA) street life is typically depicted in films.Would IMDb voters ever have scored 'Boyz in the Hood' so highly had it not been for (events/music/etc like) the Watts Riots, NWA, Public Enemy et al - drawing mass attention to that world which seems far removed from 'white suburbia'? Perhaps not. (ok, maybe not the best example, i admit, but you see what I'm getting at, right?)Following on the comparison to Compton,LA- London has had; Brixton riot, Broadwater Farm riot, and recent modern music artists such as; Dizzy Rascal and Lethal B. As a backdrop,perhaps these best portray London's 'social tensions' and 'influences' when it comes to showing how life is for many teenagers growing up in London today. For me, acknowledgement and familiarity of these things makes the plot and dialogue all that more real and thus the film more genuine.Come on IMDb, lets raise this film's rating towards the 7+ region. :-)
Wasn't that bad...
posted on 02 Aug 2009It was a bit disappointing mainly because I was pleased to see a film like this being released but it didn't live up to its full potential, Music on the film was fine as was the acting but the story was pretty basic and you didn't feel much for the characters despite how real they seemed... it was a very realistic film and was done very well but it doesn't live up to its hype and we're still yet to match films such as Boyz N Tha Hood/Menace II Society. Its on par with Bullet Boy but nowhere near the quality of Snatch/Lock Stock, Very basic story which the UK Video industry is yet to master, One day we will get it right, On day... Doesn't deserve too much negative criticism as its a genre I'm interested in. 6 out of 10 seems fair to me.
Brutal
posted on 31 Jul 2009I started watching Kidulthood entirely by mistake. I was flicking through the channels and I really didn't want to watch a film, but there was nothing else on, so I watched it for a little while 'just to see what it was like'. Anyway, I think I missed the first five minutes, but I watched the rest of the film, despite continually thinking, 'I'm going to turn this off in a minute, I don't want to watch a film'.I can't relate to this film. I'm twenty-two, so only a few years older than the kids starring, but I'm not from London and I didn't grow up 'in da hood'. I have never known anyone who carries, or has carried a knife. I've never seen a gun. Don't get me wrong though, I'm working class and live in a working class area, about forty miles from London. I know these things go on, but I've never seen them and so, I cannot relate to Kidulthood.Now then, I found the storyline fairly believable. The idea of covering everything that society despises in kids, into one film and a twenty-four hour period, was an interesting one. As the film covers one twenty-four hour period, everything happens quickly. I wouldn't say that was necessarily a bad thing, far from it. From scene to scene something always happens in this film - it's never given a chance to sit back or plod along. There's always something happening.Kidulthood is brutal in it's portrayal of kids and their habits. It's definitely worth a watch.
Review
posted on 31 Jul 2009So. Kidulthood. There has been a lot of talk about this film and how it's a little over the top that it happens in one day. That may be so, but the issues faced in the film are what that demographic goes through and i think by audience reaction so far the film makers choice to show this was correct. I also believe people are missing the point. Film like books doesn't have to answer question. I thought The film itself is beautifully shot. Tufano has used everything at his disposal to make the low budget work, and with clever editing and music any weak directing is quickly covered. the acting is amazing with the Young Ameen (Trife)an Madrell (Alisa)using their raw talent to put in Stella performances. One wonders if they can get any better than this. If they can i believe the future of British TV/Film is in good hands. Noel Clarke's performance as (Sam, the Bully) was downright amazing. Seeing him totally convince me that he was not Wyman or Mickey, (the characters he plays in two well known shows)Was a treat. His menace and the intimidation factor he bought to Sam showed that many films that have used a British rapper in the parts may have missed a trick. (Although i have heard that in real life he is more like Sam than the those other characters mentioned. Apart from thee abusive bullying part of course.) Jamie winstone is also a great as (Becky) and the laughs come from Deacon (Jay) Clarke's script although great, suffers at times with the over use of bad language and violent scenes which seem a little too much. the general chatter of the young people is real enough though snatched straight from the streets of Ladbroke grove itself. You believe the conversations the kids have and kind of like their youthful ignorance. The lack of police is a bit unreal and you would think parents would be around a little more but the film makers say that this film is supposed to be from the kids point of view and not many kids get up to bad stuff with mum around. Overall i would say that although not perfect, i would say that this is the best homegrown film in at least ten years. You will love or hate this movie (I personally loved it) but you should definitely see it. British film, in all it's low budget grittyness is back. You get me! (That's what the kids say right?)
Why do people have a problem with this film?
posted on 21 Jul 2009I don't get why people have a problem with this movie, I know some say it glorifies violence, drugs and underage sex but that just isn't true. People don't seem to see that things are really like this, the film highlights what the world is really like in some places.I went to a school where things were very similar to the movie, bullying was rife and violent, being high in class was easy to get away with and buying the drugs even easier. Being a virgin past the age of sixteen meant that you were frigid, and being religious in any way, (like I am) meant that you were obviously a freak. What can I say, I really identify with the girl at the beginning.When I watched this movie I was happy to see someone truthfully portraying the mindset and situation of many young people today.I am not saying that everyone lives like this in England, thats not true. There are many different ways of living in the UK and this film demonstrates one particular life style. It is however very relevant, people need to see that we don't all live like characters from more lighthearted films.I look forward to seeing Adulthood as I am sure that it will be just as well done!
Absolutely Amazin Film
posted on 30 May 2009i only watched this film for the first time last night after waiting months and months but i tell you 1 thing it was worth the wait! I'm only 15 myself and the film showed life of a teenager the way it is. I know i don't live in a big city and that gun crime and violence isn't as bad here as it is in the film but the sex issues and drug use are! Alissa getting pregnant and Trife saying he didn't want nothing 2 do with it at the beginning well that is wot happens these days! anyway all I'm going say now is that it is definitely worth watching and it was worth the wait! Eny1 know Any other films that r like this one that you think i would enjoy please?? xxx
Fairly realistic, if sometimes exaggerated, portrayal of life for London teens
posted on 22 Apr 2009To some people Kidulthood may appear to be quite a far-fetched story with regard to how some of the youth, especially the children from working class families, may treat life and indeed how life treats them in the London of today. But on closer inspection I feel that the IMDb rating for this film does not quite reflect it's achievements. Although I can see why certain individuals might not like the film or some of the characters in it, I have to say that a lot of it rings true. The way the characters spoke to each other was spot-on, as were most of the locations. Just stand on any London High Street or sit on the back of any London bus and you will hear for yourself that the English being spoke amongst the kids today is almost indecipherable. The acting was fine by most of the cast, including the newcomers. I think Noel Clarke (who also wrote) was particularly convincing as the bully, Sam. The violence was realistic, particularly the final scene. Baseball bats are far more accessible than the gun (believe it or not, most National newspapers would have you believe otherwise, I know!) and this gave the film a more realistic feel. If I have any real criticism of the movie it would be that I feel they could have made it more believable by setting it over a longer period of time, a weekend perhaps would have done it more justice than just a single day. On the whole definitely worth a watch.
My troubled past comes back .
posted on 16 Apr 2009I have seen a bundle to Brit flicks that show a hyped by stylish glamorised side of London . Should be Lock Stock , or Snatch , or maybe even Notting Hill these movies have always shown the romantic side of London . However that Ladies and Gents is only the sugar coated topping , there is another world underneath that what is known to most of us who grew up on the streets of London as the real world . The director of Kidulthood does a masterful job giving us a vision of the urban hell-hole that we have all come to know ! The social issues that are highlighted in this film are spot on , whether it be the drug abuse , teenage pregnancies or the ever looming threat of the gang culture with the idiotic craze which is known as Happy slapping .We have all read about , seen it and, probably worst experienced it . Kidulthood presents to the viewer a true , grim , depiction of a life a 15 year old black teenager Trife and his life growing up in the tough neighbourhood and school where words come cheap .We are taken into his world for just 1 day and meet a whole host of characters who fit into the doomed path of life probably just like Trife . The acting was over the top brilliant to the point where to me personally it felt that it was not a film but you were watching someone's life unfold in front of you as the director chose's location's that were truly urban nitty and gritty to the point that you don't need to marvel at the breath taking scenery , you just want to focus as the story rolls along . I'm not a huge fan of Uk hip-hop but this time it seemed to fit in and add to the flavour of the film . The only drawback was that it was a little to over hyped and once or twice it did feel a bit unrealistic in some places but it stood on track and the humour was pretty funny in places as well especially with the white hoody guy. In general Kidulthood is a deep , dark , depressing look on the darker side of London's youth and by looking at it one will walk away probably wanting to take a look back at his life and see where is his or her future heading for . Kidulthood is highly recommended film by not only my-self but several other movie lovers and I shall very likely purchase this when it hits the DVD'S.KIDULTHOOD SCORES : 8 OUT 10 FOR NOW THIS IS THE SHADOWMAN WISHING YOU ALL GOOD LUCK AND GOOD NIGHT .
Proud to be British? Well I am proud of this movie
posted on 02 Apr 2009This is a prime example of how British movies of this type should be made. You do not need fx or blue screen to make a raw movie that packs a punch.This type of movie will mainly appeal to the younger generation or maybe people from my age (Am I still young?) from the early 80s.Without spoiling anything of this movie... Just think of The Streets albums meets Kids (The movie) and you will have a small idea of what this movie is about.I would recommend follow up movie Adulthood which really does go in a whole new direction but keeps to the heart of this movie.For me it is well worth a 10 as it is a perfect movie for the younger British people...But to answer my question: Proud to be British? No, not when watching this movie... But this is a real British movie of the 2K Generation.Thanks, Lee
A flawed, but a well acted look at kids gone bad in London.
posted on 31 Mar 2009Kidulthood is an energetic snap shot of wasted youth in London that's flawed, but definitely interesting.For the most part, the young cast (except for a very hammy jamie winstone) give strong, naturalistic performances-particularly noel clarke whos shocking turn as the local badman sam, will instantly make you forget clarkes "oafish boyfriend" routine on doctor who. What gives the performances a higher level of authenticity is the slang and profanity heavy dialogue that serves as an accurate representation of how the kids talk these days (you don't know how old i feel writing that!).However the films mission to keep things as raw and gritty as possible ends up as its down fall- the script tries so hard to make the kids seem so reckless and hedonistic that the trouble they get into just gets unrealistic and shocking for the sake of being shocking after a while. Also, the story is very predictable- you will know how this one turns out , not even halfway through its running time .Kidulthood doesn't come close to being as good as the likes of city of god or La haine, but its a well acted drama that I have to commend for trying to show a side of London that many other local films choose to ignore.
British stereotypes run the show
posted on 07 Feb 2009Kidulthood explores the lives of teenagers in London in Huda's interesting and controversial 2006 British drama.The British media runs riot on any story they can get their hands on and exploit, and in recent years have developed various forms of stereotypes, none more so than the stereotypical "gangster teenager" who swears every other sentence, drinks, does drugs and has a violent motive towards others and this ideology is explored by Doctor Who star Noel Clarke.Clarke dives deep into the lives of numerous teenagers to bring out the personalities of the teenagers, and his character Sam is a stereotype of a teenager, the use of violence and swearing portray the villain of the narrative. I'm usually against stereotypes being used in films but in this case it is interesting to see how these stereotypes feel about being branded that way, when the teenagers walk into a shop and are accused of a crime they didn't commit just because of their image as this stereotype the media has created.The stories centre around what is regarded as typical teenage lives, which involve Jamie Winstone's character messing around with older men for drugs, a guy and a girl in a complicated relationship where the girl is pregnant and the idea of suicide is also encoded which is very dramatic.The acting, direction, dialogue and settings are all extremely poor and given the strong message it could have been done so much better. Regardless the message is there and I couldn't tear myself away even if I wanted to.The stereotypical view does go over the top, I am 19 and have never seen anyone act as violent or swear as much as the characters in this film. I can see the point, but trying to convey realism was overdone. The stories of each character are interesting, if somewhat of a cliché. Considering everything about this film is poor, it is a surprising entertaining watch.
At last a great little Film , and it's British too
posted on 30 Jan 2009If like me you have despaired at the way that the London has been portrayed in films over the last 10 or so years this film is a God send. This is a London that truly reflects the city as it is today and not as it was in the 50s, like films such as Notting Hill, Wimbledon and Love Actually to name but a few. Added to that the film isn't to bad considering the recent track record of UK films. Its a bit like Larry Clarke's Kids meets Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing with added Grange Hill (a BBC Children's drama programme)all set in & around Ladbroke Grove & Harrow Road, London.The film tells the stories of a number of kids given the day off school after a girl kills herself after being bullied. What ensues over the next 24 hours includes a relentless tide of booze, drug taking, underage sex, stealing as well as Gun-crime. And not once is there any preaching or moralising that is left to the viewer to make there own mind up on.The performances in the main are some what workman like however two performances stand out, that of Aml Ameen (Trife) and Jamie Winstone (Becky). Of the two, Winstone is some to look out for because on the evidence of this film she has a bright future. Director Menhaj Huda handles things well from Noel Clarke's first time script, again both are to be looked out for in the future. The film also has a firin' Soundtrack by some of the UK's Hip Hop & Grime artists, giving the film the feel of a US production.As I said in the beginning this film is an antidote to all those fay Richard Curtis film's we've had to endure over the last few years. One hopes that the filmmakers get the opportunity to make more like it, if not in the UK in the US.The film is definitely one to check out if you can.
Kidulthood IS London
posted on 24 Jan 2009A film that epitomises growing up in London, this is a detached view and the most powerful tool at the films disposal is the blunt truth. Everything you see in the movie is exactly what life is like growing up in London, this film therefore can either really relate to you (only if you live in London) or will be completely unfamiliar, which is why I think it hasn't had the reviews it deserves. This isn't trying to be a gangster film or an artsy preacher. It is merely telling a story one that could be about any 15 year old that hasn't had a sheltered life. It deploys the vices in society, paedophilia, petty crime and human insecurity. The sequel is amazing and completes the saga.
everything thats bad about London
posted on 06 Jan 2009If you need a reason not to come to London or more reasons to get out then watch this film. Granted its a well made film but its a well made film that highlights everything that is wrong with current life in London and indeed in Britain. Crtitics will argue that the film enlightens those who perhaps don't realise what goes on in teenagers lives these days. Drugs,Sex,Bullying,Crime are all things touched upon in the 89 minutes screened however the majority of people who watch this movie are those living the life and this only leads to promoting this kind of lifestyle. The movie itself is entertaining enough and very well acted if you think an hour and a half of 15 year old hood rats running around town causing trouble is entertainment. personally I don't and neither should the people who made this. proper whack innit blood etc
A brutally honest, thoroughly enjoyable watch
posted on 31 Dec 2008I watched this film as part of a media studies course, studying the representation of teenagers in popular culture. I have to say, I've never been gripped so greatly by a film of this genre; the narrative is, while quite ostentatious, believable and enticing; it's brutal candour regarding the lives of teenagers is refreshing after so many productions making these frankly depressing lives condescendingly 'wholesome' and using awful politically-correct terms (I recall one such production depicting a 'chav' in full garb etc. saying 'You're a flipping idiot' with perfect diction, something which I've never heard, nor can imagine hearing from such an individual.) In fact, I admire this film for its verbal candour and the freedom given to the actors to ad-lib their lines.Something I must comment on is the acting, which is varied to say the least; unfortunately, a lot of the white-British characters have very wooden speech, and at times I could almost see them holding the script in front of them. Most of the black characters, however (and I'm sorry to be making this differentiation based on race, but it's obvious when you see it in this film,) are nothing short of outstanding; their passionate violence and complete lack of inhibition is matched by their supreme command of contemporary slang, the ability to use it to such believable effect that, at times I thought I was watching an unscripted documentary rather than a work of fiction. The fact that Kidulthood is directed like a Channel 4 documentary didn't help either (nothing necessarily wrong with this, but I don't think that that style is suited for a feature-length production.)In short, I feel that the uninhibited depiction of the degenerate youth and the entirely convincing realism seen in Kidulthood set it far apart and above anything like it.Now we've just got to wait for a sequel...
Exceptionally realistic
posted on 28 Aug 2009Featuring bullying, casual sex, hard drug abuse, complete disregard for authority, organised crime and even murder, if ever a film wanted an ASBO more than an Oscar, it's Kidulthood. Making social commentary out of such exceptional events is problematic at best. On one hand you've got Trife (Ameen), caught between pregnant ex-girlfriend Alisa (Madrell) and gunrunning for his malevolent uncle. Then there's Trife's mates Jay (Deacon) and Moony (Oyeniran), spoiling for a fight with neighbourhood bully Sam (Clarke), Jay going so far as to steal Sam's abused girlfriend (Fairley). Meanwhile Alisa's best friend Becky is going around the area granting sexual favours in exchange for cocaine. And Lenny (Spall), the brother of classmate Kate, who killed herself 10 minutes into the film, is seeking revenge on the bullies who drove her to suicide. By the way, most of these kids are fifteen years old. No one plot strand above is perhaps impossible, but collapsed into one whole it verges on hysterical. The contrivances are all the more frustrating because when Kidulthood steers away from its tabloid-baiting antics to concentrate on more typical teenage struggles it is convincing. Clarke's screenplay teems with authentic modern slang and is filled with telling observations: how (lack of) sexual prowess is a potent tool to blackmail or shame a person; the fine line between fitting in or being true to yourself; how adults are often peripheral figures in a teenager's life; and the racial stereotyping that goes hand in hand with minority groups in urban areas. As Hood-wearing Moony points out when he can't get a taxi, "ain't that ironic - black cab don't take black man." Overall Kidulthood is a thoroughly entertaining watch.