Kids are growing up fast in Brotherhood writes LifestyleMK's Tremayne Miller

Tremayne Miller, Film Critic

by Tremayne Miller
Film Critic: LifestyleMK & HeyUGuys

Brotherhood

Dir: Noel Clarke

Screenplay: Noel Clarke

With: Noel Clarke, Olivia Chenery, Ashley Thomas, Nick Nevern, Steven Cree, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Arnold Oceng, Aaron Eaton.

Running time: 1 hr, 45 min

Initial release: 29 August, 2016

British multihyphenate, Noel Clarke returns with "Brotherhood” to complete The Kidulthood Trilogy Series.

The Trilogy began with "Kidulthood" in 2006, followed by "Adulthood" in 2008.

“Kidulthood” kickstarted what Complex UK coined as the "British hood film movement," which analysed the lives of a group of disillusioned teenagers within west London. Directed by Menhaj Huda, with a script written by Noel Clarke, who starred in the film, then went on to direct the sequel “Adulthood.” "Adulthood" (2008) picks up 6 years after "Kidulthood," and follows Clarke, who is released from prison after being found guilty of murder.

In "Brotherhood" Clarke reprises his role as the lead protagonist, Sam, which is scheduled for release in the UK to tie in with the 10-year anniversary release of the film "Kidulthood."

 “Brotherhood” is a powerful drama with the right balance of non-gratuitous violence and humour, a specific example of which is an “awkward comedy” moment, when Arnold Oceng, who plays Henry lies to his wife about who he’s on the phone to , and instead uses Tesco clubcard as a cover-up.  Comedy that’s written in such a way that it appears off-the-cuff is a high skill, and in heightened form scenarios are made much funnier as a result.

Before the private screening of “Brotherhood” got underway Noel Clarke, who introduces it says it felt like his debut, and that this time around it was about him collecting all the things from the other two movies that were right.

Echoes of Clarke being a father of three in real life are dotted throughout, one example being when Henry (Arnold Oceng) defends Sam from the baddies, leading them to believe that his son’s ninja turtle toy stowed underneath his non-gangster type jacket is a gun!

I was stunned to learn that “Brotherhood” is the only British Trilogy in existence but felt it a well put together movie in its own right, where one responds most favourable towards Sam, as if you are his  sidekick. Rest assured you will get up from your cinema seat with the biggest urge to immediately catch back to back the first two films in the sequence!'

 

The Guardian headline on 9 September reads ‘Brotherhood actor Aaron Eaton dies days after film's release.’ The 29-year-old played Teardrop in the third installment of The Kidulthood Films.

The cause of Eaton’s death remains unclear but the film’s director, Noel Clarke and the grime rapper Stormzy, who also appear in the movie, were among those to pay tribute.

Eaton, who lived in south London, was nominated for best actor prize at the International Achievement Recognition awards for the role he played in the 2015 British film Awol – Absent Without Love.

Brotherhood began its preview run on 28 August and grossed £971,000 in its first few days of release, with a total of£1.98 in the first week of opening.

c. Tremayne Miller