Young Soul Rebels (1991)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Isaac Julien

Writers:

Paul Hallam (writer)
Isaac Julien (writer)

Release Date:

6 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Tears | Costume | Drunkenness | Radio | Queen's Jubilee

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Valentine Nonyela	...	Chris
Mo Sesay	...	Caz
Dorian Healy	...	Ken
Frances Barber	...	Ann
Sophie Okonedo	...	Tracy
Jason Durr	...	Billibud
Gary McDonald	...	Davis
Debra Gillett	...	Jill
Eamonn Walker	...	Carlton (as Eamon Walker)
James Bowers	...	Sparky
Billy Braham	...	Kelly
Wayne Norman	...	Bigsy
Danielle Scillitoe	...	Trish
Ray Shell	...	Jeff Kane
Nigel Harrison	...	Cid Man

Also Known As:

La radio pirata (Spain)
Young Soul Rebels: la radio pirata (Spain)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | France | Germany | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

British Film Institute (BFI)

Soundtrack:

Rock Creek Park

Flawed, but from the heart.

Firstly, lets get the negatives ironed out and set the record straight.

Yes, the plot gets a bit lost towards the end, yes some of the acting is questionable, yes some of the storyline is a little far fetched. If we judged every film we saw on those merits alone we'd be very shallow people! Thank heavens British Cinema gets away with making films like this, that represent British History, Culture and lifestyle in a non-conformist, sensitive and "path less trodden" view.

Yes it has a gay story line... and to correct another review only ONE of the two central characters is gay. What sets this film apart if we are discussing it within the genre of "Gay films" is that it tackles the delicate issue of men of Afro-Caribbean descent being gay in an interesting and uncompromising way. It doesn't pander to our expectations/stereotypical view of gay men, and utilises the sexuality angle as an integral part of the whole plot. "Jeffery" it aint! Nuff Said!

The whole story is set in the Summer of 1977 - the Queens Silver Jubilee. Chris & Caz run "Soul Patrol" - a pirate radio station that plays Jazz Funk - marginalised at the time by Punk and Reggae. One of their close friend's is murdered in the park, and Chris finds a piece of evidence as to who the killer is.

The film is Directed by Isaac Julien, who was shortlisted for a Turner Prize recently (2002) (A prestigious UK award within the art community) Julien has captured, by use of location (Dalston - East London) Lighting (capturing the hot summer of '77 perfectly) and Music (the soundtrack is a gem - Roy Ayers, Funkadelic, Blackbyrds etc) a mood and feeling that I've felt from no other film.

In some ways "Young Soul Rebels" was ahead of its time, and was badly marketed and has been aired very little since its release in 1991. Its "Celebration & Integration" message is how we now live, as a mixed race/sexuality culture here in the Major towns of the UK today... it seems such a shame to mis-label it "A gay film" when there is clearly more to it than that.