Review of Somers Town (2008) by Roberto R — 11 Mar 2009

A more relaxed and often charming film, by the increasingly talented British film maker Shane Meadows. Shot in black and white, it tells the story of two teenagerâ??s mismatched friendship. In a fairly new developing part of London, Marek (Piotr Jagiello) lives with his father, who works on the Channel Tunnel rail link, in Kings Cross. While he wanders about taking photos, he plays good samaritan to Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) who is a runaway from the midlands and on his first night is mugged, losing his belongings and money. Both are strangers to London and their rather incompatible friendship leads them to seeking affection from a local café waitress and employment from a local scruffy â??wideboyâ?? Graham (Perry Benson). At the beginning, Tomo wants to intimidate Marek , but he soon learns he does need his support. Both are experiencing the growing pains of their youth, as Marek is at odds with his domineering but loving father and Tomo is simply escaping something that is never really explored. Marek is lonely in his surroundings in as much the same way as is Tomo.

Tomo, while trying to be the The Artful Dodger of the two, is really just a cheeky chap, who is a bit out of his depth. The film, as you expect from the director, is very funny in places and has a real heart to the story. The dialogue is very realistic and doesnâ??t seem forced, as there seems to be a real chemistry between all the actors. One of the more bizarre, humorous parts of the film is Thomas Turgoose is given the most ridicules wardrobe to wear for the second half of the film. The touching friendship between Tomo and Marek (and Elisa Lasowski as Maria) does show how multiculturalism is a positive aspect of modern Britain behind the backdrop of the Channel Tunnel link in London.