Blue Story
Gang turf war meets Shakespearean melodrama ( as tell through the linguistic communication of whack ) in Andrew Onwubolu aka . Rapman’sBlue Story , an impassioned feature article - length adaptation of the British instrumentalist - filmmaker ’s YouTube series inspired by his real - living upbringing . The motion picture made headline after violence broke out at screening in the UK last fall , yet the factual movie is anything but a sensationalized dramatic play and is fiercely critical of the machismo that fuel the destructive behavior of its describe versions of literal - world London gangs . It ’s also remove the study of a first - fourth dimension director who ’s already found their voice and is quick to take the next step of refining it . Blue Storycan be messy in reach , but it ’s undeniably passionate and carried by its simple , yet effective , and sometimes lyrical storytelling .
The film stars Stephen Odubola as Timmy , a leger - smart yet timid boy from the Deptford region of London who attends school in Peckham and is friends with Marco ( Michael Ward ) , a good - natured , streetwise kid whose older comrade Switcher ( Eric Kofi - Abrefa ) is a fellow member of the Peckham Boys work party affiliate with the neighborhood . In spitefulness of the tensions between them and Deptford ’s Ghetto Boys , Timmy and Marco are deeply firm to one another and unforced to put themselves in hurt ’s room when the other is threatened by the gang in their respective areas . However , after Marco is assail by one of Timmy ’s former schoolmates - turned Ghetto Boys , it sets off a chain of events that culminates in tragedy and finally shatters their friendship . Three years by and by , the two have become rivals in the ongoing street war and begin hunting one another in an increasingly vehement ( and empty ) search for retaliation .
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At its gist , Blue Storyis a introductory morals play that unfolds like one of The Bard ’s tragedies , right on down to having a Grecian Greek chorus in the form of a rapping Rapman ( who also spell the handwriting ) . The filmmaker is shamed of using this picky element to get away with telling , not read , what ’s happening to the characters at time , but it otherwise fits withBlue Story ’s overarching theatrical invention . Narratively , the motion picture is at its strongest when it focus on its coming of age themes about friendship , fatal masculine identity , and first - dear in the other going ( with the ongoing gang state of war unfolding in the background ) . Things start to get shakier from there , though , as the focus switching to the collapse of Timmy and Marco ’s kinship . In a common misstep for newbie directors , Rapman tend to introduce new characters and plot points a little too quickly , the further alongBlue Storygoes . It keep the film ’s runtime down , but at the expense of delivering a productive experience .
Many of the supporting histrion inBlue Storyare likewise thinly - drawn and the ensemble mold , as a whole , add up across as a little too inexperienced to make up the difference with their performances . fortuitously , the moving picture delivers where it weigh , with Odubola doing an splendid task of selling Timmy ’s transformation from diffident and inept grind to vengeful gang phallus . Ward is n’t quite as potent by comparing , but still does skilful work , especially when it comes to his chemistry with Odubola and the way he trance Marco ’s inner turmoil as he wrestle with the unexpectedly ( and increasingly ) horrendous result of his actions . Karla - Simone Spence is equally charismatic in her turn as Leah , Timmy ’s crush , and her interaction with Odubola are sweet and touching . Disappointingly , however , her actual role inBlue Storyis predictable and regressive by compare .
Rapman deal to redress for many of these flaws with his assured direction , meld Mdhamiri Á Nkemi ’s rhythmic redaction with Simon Stolland ’s sexual photography to land the proceedings to industrious and often vibrant life sentence . His personal joining to and familiarity with the London borough shines through in the wayBlue Storyportrays its graphic symbol ' day to Clarence Shepard Day Jr. living and interaction , and there ’s never a smell the movie was made by someone who ’s clueless about how modernistic teenagers interact in the age of social media . confessedly , there are times whenBlue Story ’s low - budget becomes apparent and , along those same lines , Rapman does n’t always find his footing when it comes to shooting the more action - driven scenes . But what he does accomplish is promising enough to leave you require to see what he can do with a bigger canvass to paint on .
all told , Blue Storydoes what any respectable debut feature should : launch its manager as a storyteller with a unique style and a voice worth listening to . It ’s the type of non - American motion picture that might ’ve scramble to make its agency across the pond ( much less , pull a healthy interview ) in the yesteryear , but is thankfully more accessible in the current securities industry . That ’s all the more meaningful , moot its messages about toxic maleness and young black living should resonate just as much with people in the U.S. as it does in the UK . All in all , it ’s a story to hesitate and take in .
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Blue Storyis now usable on digital political platform for economic rent and purchase . It is 91 minutes foresighted and is rated radius for violence and language throughout , drug use and some sexuality .
Michael Ward in Blue Story
Blue Story , directed by Rapman , is a British drama film that chronicles the turbulent friendship between two young male child from opposing postcodes in South East London . As they voyage their teenage years , the pressures of gang culture threaten to bust their attachment asunder . Starring Stephen Odubola and Micheal Ward , the film highlights theme of trueness , force , and the wallop of social surround on youth .
Stephen Odubola in Blue Story
