Somers Town - Shane Meadows

[Helen D]

Even though I had read about it, I didn't notice that it was in black and white till a football shirt was being handed out and I couldn't tell what team it was for! A good choice by Shane Meadows. It acts to focus your attention on the characters and makes a bleaker backdrop. I am a great fan of his films and this one fits right on up there with 'Dead Man's Shoes' and 'This is England' even though it may not have packed the same punch.Thomas Turgoose (who also played Sean in This is England) acts in the same natural way that was incredible then and doesn't loose anything by his being older now. The film was very touching and sad, but at the same time very, very funny. Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) has left home to try and find a better life in London. He meets Marek, the son of a Polish worker on the channel tunnel rail link. They strike up a friendship and Tomo, unkown to Marek's father, moves in to their flat. They both fall for the same girl and become rivals for her affection, having the occasional falling out along the way.Though the film may lack a fully fleshed out storyline and it does leave you hungry for a bit more background to the characters, it is a really good evening spent at the cinema. The audience where I saw it were laughing out loud even though there were just a few of us.See it if you can, It's still on in a few places.