Review of Somers Town (2008) by Adam B — 27 Jan 2009

Somers Town is a glorified advertisement. Largely financed by Eurostar to promote their London to Paris railroad and London station, this film has absolutely no right to be any good. This should be the Mac & Me (the shameful, borderline unwatchable McDonald's sponsored ET rip off) of the 2000s, complete with random, illogical train station dancing numbers and kids in wheelchairs falling off cliffs for some reason or another. Luckily though, this is the new film from Shane Meadows, so it isn't an exercise in condescending marketing. It is in fact wonderful.

The film is set in central London, in and around the Channel hub. Marek is a Polish teenager alone in the city except for his hard working father who disappears every night for drinks. Marek meets Tomo, an English lad of his age who has seemingly run away from home (a subplot which is left to the viewers' imagination for the most part). The two form a friendship, and begin to explore London - getting odd jobs, robbing clothes and falling in love with Parisian women along the way.

Like all of Shane Meadow's films, this is a very simple, personal tale told perfectly. There is nothing particularly original about it, but the story is so involving and heartwarming you can't help but be won over by its charms. Its a radical departure from Dead Man's Shoes and This is England: this is just a story about two new friends, their shenanigans and the quirky individuals they meet along the way. The two central teenagers give great performances, with Thomas Turgoose (the lead from This is England) returning and proving his worth again.

The film is shot in beautifully composed black and white, and almost feels like Meadows' love letter to central London. It is also an hilarious little film, with more laugh out loud moments than most recent straight up comedies. There are hints at the grittier side of the city too (including an early assualt sequence) but this is an optimistic story - despite the difficult circumstances of the two main characters (both have a troubled home life) the film chooses to keep its chin up throughout.

As the film draws to a conclusion, the narrative does get influenced by the whole Eurostar business, but who cares? It also suits the story being told, and only the most cynical of anti-capitalists will complain about the product placement. This is just a great feelgood film for the end of the summer, a funny and happy movie that is a damn sight better than Mac & Me.

8/10.