Kidulthood
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk

Kidulthood is a powerful, gritty and hard hitting look at what life is really like for many teenagers in London’s underbelly in the 21st Century. Often violent but always compelling, this is a groundbreaking Brit Flick and the perfect antidote to anyone who would like a change from the sugary-sweet depictions of London life often seen in films by British production heavy weight Richard Curtis.

The film follows a number of kids who are given the day off school when one of their classmates is driven to suicide. For the next 24 hours, Kidulthood takes us on a trip through underage drinking, sex, illegal drug taking, stealing and even gun crime.

The best thing about Kidulthood is that the filmmakers allow the audience to make up their own minds about the characters in the film – all of the characters make questionable choices – from illegal drinking to prostitution however they don’t try to preach or moralise, they simply tell it how it is.

Largely following Trife (Aml Ameen – The Bill), Mooney (Femi Oyineran) and Jay (Adam Deacon) as they first of all confront their school bully (Noel Clarke – Mickey from Doctor Who) and then soon move on to petty theft, violence, abuse and drug taking.

Another story linked to the first follows Alisa (Red Madrell), who has found out that she is pregnant by Trife but has been rejected by him, and how she comes to terms with the pregnancy and confronts the bullies that drove her classmate to suicide. Alisa is accompanied for much of the film by her semi-prostitute 15 year old friend Becky (played by Ray Winstone’s daughter Jaime Winstone).

The acting from all the teenagers involved is absolutely outstanding – and with the style of the filming, this film is like a British version of Larry Clarke’s ‘Kids’ combined with TV classic Grange Hill. With an absorbing London soundtrack featuring some of the top British urban bands, this is an uncompromising and gritty view of how life is for many Kids living in London at the moment… and also guaranteed to terrify parents of teenagers up and down the country.

Keep an eye out for the kids in Kidulthood – whether that be Noel Clarke, Jaime Winstone, Aml Ameen, Red Madrell or Blockbuster.co.uk favourite Nicholas Hoult who even pops up in a supporting role – these 'kids' are going to go far!

Enjoy!

Between childhood and adulthood comes Kidulthood. Add to your list now.