Much better than I expected, this saga about a group of rowdy party kids really becomes interesting as you get to know each of their personalities. Certainly, they are greatly troubled, some drug addicts, some cutters, and a few from fine families that are simply rebelling without a cause. First thing in the morning, as soon as they can get themselves up, they are walking around the streets of London with a glass of beer in their hands, some wondering where they are going to party and sleep that night. A few of them break into a flap where the people are way, create a mess trying on all their shoes, and sit around discussing all of their problems. This could have been a very tedious film, but the way it is written does create an interest in them even if they aren't people I'd want to know.
The only name in the cast who my recognized was Fiona Shaw as the mother of one of this group, and she's great as always. This is one of those realistic social dramas that British Cinema had been doing since the 1950's, often showing a tougher street life than American films. For a film of this theme, it is surprisingly unviolent, although the scene where someone cuts themselves truly is disturbing, probably the only time I've ever seen that on screen. I enjoyed the location footage on the streets of London, one setting possibly the fashionable Carnaby Street which I've seen in some of the mod 60's comedies such as "Georgie Girl" and "Smashing Time". Normally films like this would be hard for me to get through, but the above-average script kept me interested.
The only name in the cast who my recognized was Fiona Shaw as the mother of one of this group, and she's great as always. This is one of those realistic social dramas that British Cinema had been doing since the 1950's, often showing a tougher street life than American films. For a film of this theme, it is surprisingly unviolent, although the scene where someone cuts themselves truly is disturbing, probably the only time I've ever seen that on screen. I enjoyed the location footage on the streets of London, one setting possibly the fashionable Carnaby Street which I've seen in some of the mod 60's comedies such as "Georgie Girl" and "Smashing Time". Normally films like this would be hard for me to get through, but the above-average script kept me interested.