Review of Adulthood (2008) by Terry C — 08 Jul 2008

Thank goodness for Noel Clarke and his motley crew of filmmakers, actors and production personnel. In this franchise we in the UK, at last, have a medium through which our young people can speak to us.

Particularly those who hail from the urban centres around the country....this here is a London thing. In this follow-up to the 2005 hit drama 'Kidulthood', the main cast remain virtually the same, just three (six) years on.

A man is released from prison following a term in jail for manslaughter and soon receives mortal warnings. He wants to change his life but he upset a lot of people before he went to jail, and they are seeking to ensure he doesn't survive his first 24 hours on the outside.

Excellently handled and superbly acted in places, Adulthood draws characters many of us know locally, but whom have become nothing more than charicatures for those outside urban society, and are largely looked upon with disdain.

There are good young people in London, but the streets are rough and those with good intentions are often caught up in the madness. Like any film there are lulls but this still doesn't reflect from the power of the messages, one being that even good parents are helpness to quell the criminal will of their wayward offspring.

Essential viewing.