http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdoKD4gTQ2c
trailer of kidulthood.

INTRODUCTION

Kidulthood tells the story of a turbulent 48 hours in the life of a group of fifteen-year-olds living in West London. Filmmaker Menhaj Huda and his youthful cast set out to show what life was really like for young people growing up today and the problems and issues they face. The film was shot in the UK in just four and a half weeks on a minimal budget but incorporates all the action and suspense of a big Hollywood production.

BEFORE YOU VIEW THE FILM:

■ Look at the poster image. How does this confirm or contradict your expectations of Kidultood?

It is very dark and looks like they are sitting on top of a council estate tower block. Also the characters are all sat together in pairs which is the same as in the movie. Sam has a baseball bat which makes his look dangerous.

■ Why do you think the title ‘Kidulthood’ was chosen? Think about all the different parts of the word - what associations does it have and what impression does it give of what you are about to see?

Kidulthood is a play on words Adulthood. They do this to show that 'kid's' are having to deal with adult situations.

■ The action is set in a school playground. How does this contradict traditional associations of the playground and what effect does this have?

A playground should be a peaceful and safe place for children and kids. Where parents would believe there kids where playing 'hopscotch' and 'ring a ring a roses'. Obviously in this film the 'children' are 15 plus so you would expect them to be talking about harmful things like maybe liking a boy or homework. Where as in 'Kidulthood' they are talking about having sex and smoking weed so on. It's would be a big shock for parents or adults to see this as in there day and age they wouldn't have even imagine or known about these things. It has a very good effect by setting it in a playground as it is the opposite of what people would imagine.  

■ How is tension and/or aggression conveyed through the body language and facial expression of each group of characters?

The Character called 'Sam' gives of a very aggressive side form the first time you see him as he is always frowning and has his hood up the whole time which makes him look like he is up to no good. They show 4 very different groups in the playground , there is a group of bullies who look very aggressive and angry the whole time and their uniform is messy and dirty. Another group consists of the 3 boys who are main characters in the film which look very popular but also slightly dodgy as one is kissing the 'sixth form' boy sam 'girl' which makes this group look like trouble makers and that they are not scared of sam although he looks round and she asks ' what you scared of Sam' shows you that this sam boy isn't very nice. Also there is a small group of two girls who are the outsiders that are in perfect uniform. The last group is again of two girls who seem like the popular girls as they are talking about how good looking a guy is and sex.  Tension is built from the different group reacting and not liking eachother with drama going on in each group.

■ Is it easy to identify the ‘outsiders’? If so, how?

It is very easy to identify the 'outsiders' as they seem to be standing very far away from everyone else and very close together with there arms crosses. They are looking around nervously but not making eye contact with anyone. There uniform is very perfect and clean unlike everyone else. 

■ How does the filmmaker build tension into the story of Sam and Claire at this point?

The filmmaker builds tensions very well between this couple as she swaps and changes from one boy to another. She is always going behind his back which he doesn't like as he thinks he is top man and she should be lucky to be with him although he is getting with different girls. The tension bulid as the audience wonders who she will go to or stay with.

                                                              

■ What words would you use to describe the images of Trife we see in the opening

sequence of the film? How do they support what is going on around him? How do they contrast with them? What do you assume he is doing? ,

The words i would use to describe the image would be suspicious , up to no good and mysterious as you do not see what he is making or hiding. You kind of get the image that no one knows he is doing this and that he might be doing something dodgy for someone dodgy. He is in a kind of dark grimey place and this shows that he isn't meant to be there he is also constantly looking around him checking no one is there. If this was the first time I saw the movie I would think he was doing something illegal and he doesn't want anyone to know.

■ How does the soundtrack add to the feeling of tension?

The soundtrack on this movie brings tension by relating to the images being shown the song " Stay Positive" is played with a vary of images like one girl taking a pregnancy test and one girl about to commit suicide as the song lyrics are the opposite of what these girls are thinking. Also there is alot of rap songs played in the movie which sets a theme of gangster and chavs.

■ What are the main stories in the film? Are these representative of the majority of young people?

There is alot of main stories like one girl being pregnant and what she is going to do is she will keep it or get rid of it and the relationship between her and the baby's dad. The rivalry between the two group of boy's. The love triangle and the girl at the beginning that commits suicide. All these stories give negative images on today's society and young people. This is not what the majority of young people get up to. The young people in the movie are portrayed as very extreme and almost grotesque.

■ What kinds of activities do we see the ‘kids’ doing throughout the day?

The kids get into alot of trouble and dangerous situations like fighting , sexual activities , drugs , alcohol and shop lifting. The main ones are when the two girls drink alot of alcohol and take alot of illegal drugs they get these by doing sexual things with men twice their age , one girl also has sex with a very old man for money. Where as the boy's get into violent fights and break into sams house and they also take 2 beers from a small corner shop.

■ How do you feel about the language used in the film? Is it an accurate representation of how young people speak?

In the film they show the teenagers as being illiterate and ill mannered. They make every young person like this and do not show two sides. It is not a accurate representation of how the young people of today speak as everyone is different in the way they speak.     

■ How do we feel about the incident where Trife is accused of stealing the Burberry cap? How does the filmmaker influence our thoughts by the way in which it is presented?

This incident makes me feel sorry for the young boy as he is accused for doing something he has not and is not allowed to get in his side of the story. The filmmaker puts this in the film to show how black people are still treated different and it's not fair.

■ How are the adults in the film represented? Who is seen in a) a positive light

The parents in the film seem to not have a clue what is happening when there children go out of the house as when the children are home they seem to be nice and kind to their parents.

b) a negative light? How is this shown as influencing or impacting on the actions of the teenagers?

The Uncle of Trevor is shown to be a nasty and horrible man known as a gangster and he tries to drag his young nephew into his world by pressuring him into doing stuff that he doesn't want to do. Also the body guard and shop owner seem to look down at the group of boys as there are two black boys and this makes the boys feel angry and unwanted.

■ How do you feel about the way in which young people are represented by the media in a) film b) print media?

I don't think it is right how they only show a negative side of teenagers as it makes every young person look bad even if they are not. Since films like Kidulthood have came out young people seem to be hated by society and all categorized into lazy , dangerous and rude. Which most of us aren't. Print media is also worse as a more wider range of people of different ages read this and believe everything.

■ What do you think the reaction of someone aged 50+ might be to the film? What would you say to them?

Over 50's would be shocked and sickened after seeing this movie. It could even scare some from approaching us or talking to young people. I would say to them how I don't know anyone who is like the characters in the film and how the young people are shown in this movie and they should find out for themselves what young people are really like.

■ Do you think the film raises issues of gender or race?

The film raises issues of race as they show lots of the young black boys being ignored and not listened to e.g. when lots of taxis drive past one of the young black boys and he says' Isn't it ironic how black cab don't take black man'. Also another incident is when the boys enter a shop and get accused of stealing a cap that they didn't steal but they are not listened to by the workers. The issue of gender is not shown as much but the girls seem to be less violent than the boys.

■ In what ways do you think the film could help empower young people?


This film could empower young people to prove that this is not what our generation is like and that people should listen to our side of the story before putting us down.