It never ceases to amaze me how people can be shocked by a film to the point where they would suggest a particular film should not have been made, which by inference, gonog998, seems to be your contention. Did you manage to see this DVD without having any idea about its subject matter or genre ? The blurb and brief précis on the cover would have given enough indication as to what this film was about and how it would be dealt with. Also, there are plenty of reviews and opinions here on IMDb that would have given you a pretty good idea about its substance and presentation and, if you find the subject matter difficult to watch or offensive, you could have made an informed choice beforehand, instead of having watched it to be offended.
The film is not vile, but it does deal with a subject matter that is truly vile and terribly sad. However, the film, although showing disturbing scenes, does so by suggestion without being explicit or gratuitous. It is simply taking a situation that all too often exists in our cities, and uses that to create a drama. On this issue of a moral, the people responsible for the girl's corruption get their come-uppance. In much the same way as another memorable film that deals with the situation of underage/child prostitution - Taxi Driver - and in reference to classical story-telling, the child maiden is rescued (saved) by an unlikey knight, and the criminals - the dragons, to extend the mythical allusion if you will - are dispatched via a bloody death to Hell. In London to Brighton, in the older prostitute, we even have a mentor, 'wise-one' simile, the weary and jaded journeyman who has seen it all before and been damaged by the experience. It's a trope from Grimm or even Sophocles transplanted to modern urban Britain. Without a doubt, it is an unpalatable tale, and not to everyone's idea of what is or is not 'entertainment' (and here I wonder what you would make of Shakespeare's tragedies which contain some of the bloodiest scenes in English drama), but to call a film vile because of its subject matter is to ignore how the film actually tackles the subject. It has taken an adult subject as its source material and deals with it in an adult fashion.
Put simply, if you feel the subject matter is not for you, then don't watch the film. If, on the other hand, you are prepared to give the film some open thought, you'll find that this film is good enough, in my opinion, to join the list of superb British crime movies that deal with the aberrations and abuses of sex like Mona Lisa, Dance With a Stranger etc.
"Do you want to go to the toilet, Albert?"
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blackboard-jeff
15 years ago
Just wish to add my total endorsment of the previous post. (garyahampton)
Not only is this a great british film. But a brave one in tackling what is an uncomfortable subject matter.
To pretend that the situations portrayed do not exist. Or to not confront them, makes us as vile as those that commit such actions. Movies, at some point, must hold a mirror up to society.
No, this is not a gangster movie. Gangsters. Real gangsters, are not the lovable cockney rogues with which we have become familiar. But evil b******s, who would have killed them all.
And if the film makes you feel uncomfortable, then I,m guessing that was the directors aim. It would also suggest you have morals. Which of course is no bad thing.
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kitten_red
15 years ago
i missed the first 10-15 mins of this as i stumbled across it channel surfing last night on bbc1.
i thought it was well written, well scripted and the two female leads did an excelent job (i had previously seen Georgia Groome playing Georgia in 'Angus, thongs and perfect snogging ... teeny popper type stuff) so this film only shows that she has great potential.
i enjoyed the film, not for its violence, but for its realism. as somebody who has lived near red light district in the past, and known several drug users (i myself don't do any of those things) i have known of many people who would not be out of place amongst the films characters.
if you want a film with a gritty dose of reality in Britain, away from middle class suburbia, then this is a good film, and i disagree that it was vile, as this film isn't a horror with strong, graphic rape scenes or lots of gratuitous violence, nor is it a thriller with a serial killer and graphic death scenes.
if you want to see something truly vile, i recommend irreversible, and cannibal holocaust. i think the vast majority of imdb users would agree that both films are truly vile for various reasons, and would give a more accurate 'measuring post' for comparability in a film's 'vile-ness'.
Comes with free virgin kit. Virgin not supplied.
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summitnax
15 years ago
princess pam b agree with you totally. I can relate to it and thought it was well acted and very real to life. It's a part of the world a lot of people don't know about. I am glad that this film was made.
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summitnax
15 years ago
Blackboard-jeff Just letting you know that I agree with your post entirely. This definitely was not another gangster movie as suggested by another poster.
I watched this film late on tv last night was just flicking through the channel. I thought the actress who played the prostitute was very convincing in her role and was a fantastic actress. Indeed the acting was good by all.I was very unfortunate to have been raised in a red light area as a child and I was one of the lucky ones who managed to escape the clutches of vice. But, I have many childhood friends who were drawn in to prostitution and Kelly reminded me of so many that I knew years ago.
I was even impressed by the filming little things like when Kelly and Joanne finished their drinks they let go of their palstic cups and then you watch the cups being swept away by the wind!And the balloon suddenly appearing over the wall/fence!
Back to the plot, I thought the film was very realistic and most of the characters I could relate to. I felt the anguish and pain of both Kelly and especially the deep need to rescue Joanne. My only regret was to watch the film so late at night as I couldn't sleep afterward as it was disturbing. I know that these things go on in the world and I hope more films are made similar to this. Even it helps people to be a bit more compassionate toward prostitutes as some of them are drawn into this world at a very young age similar to Joanne.
We as a society should be made aware of this disgusting underworld where sick men do things to young vunerable children.
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pablo-taylor
15 years ago
I agree with your sentiments but the notion that it's only men who commit these horrific crimes is an all too common fallacy; at least 40% of child sex abuse is committed by women - something the liberal (i.e feminist) media don't like to admit to.
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sonofajoiner
15 years ago
Actually Pablo-taylor figures on what proportion of child abuse is committed by women range from 14% to 40% against boys, and 6% against girls (acc to wikipedia and it links to various reports that back up those figures).
And looky here, one of them feminst/liberal media articles that apparently don't exist;
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/taboo-tolerance/female-sexual-abuse-the-untold-story-of-societys-last-taboo-1767688.html
and that article includes the detail that in 2004 a childline survey of children contacting them to get help regarding sexual abuse found that female offenders were involved in 11% of cases.
The NSPCC in 2005 reported the figure at 5% overall. Other experts think it's higher and is definitely under-reported. So although 40% of offenders being female is possible it also seems to be at the upper limit of reported figures.
Tonight Matthew, I will be a bag of cats drowning in the canal
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morrowmmm
13 years ago
Gary,
It seems no-one thinks this film is totally vile, after reading your positive critique of it.
I was going to say you had totally missed the point but you hadn't.
You were, however, somewhat pretentious in your analysis and intellectual thought is not really your forte.
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