Although a fictional drama, there is a feeling of docudrama about this film as it follows two boys as they play truant from school. They pick up a 'soft' adult, and pressure him into coming with them, bullying him for their amusement as they go across a grim industrial landscape. In terms of narrative arc, it is pretty clear what direction it is all going in as it escalates across the running time, but what is interesting is how convincing it all is.
With a lot of improvisation in the performances, the characters ring true not only in themselves as cruel children with no restraint, but also in their setting. The other comment on this IMDb page highlights this much better than I will, but the landscape is very much part of the film. Everything feels tired and functional; the dodgy canal side path, the motorway bridge, the abandoned trolley; it all speaks to a terrible town with little to do – and the formative years of these children put these characters where the film wants them. It is interesting during the film to look around them and think of what influences in their short lives brought them to be like this.
The film is grim and simple in its journey, however it is engaging for how convincingly it builds and sells its characters and their environment.
With a lot of improvisation in the performances, the characters ring true not only in themselves as cruel children with no restraint, but also in their setting. The other comment on this IMDb page highlights this much better than I will, but the landscape is very much part of the film. Everything feels tired and functional; the dodgy canal side path, the motorway bridge, the abandoned trolley; it all speaks to a terrible town with little to do – and the formative years of these children put these characters where the film wants them. It is interesting during the film to look around them and think of what influences in their short lives brought them to be like this.
The film is grim and simple in its journey, however it is engaging for how convincingly it builds and sells its characters and their environment.
