DIR. Isaac Julien
YEAR. 1991
COUNTRY. UK
RUN-TIME. 105 mins
RATING. 18
£6.00 (£4.50 conc.)
Doors 6.00PM
Film 6.30PM
Launching our season of films from the African and Caribbean diaspora is Isaac Julien's debut narrative feature, Young Soul Rebels. The film follows Chris (Valentine Nonyela) and Caz (Mo Sesay), DJs on a Black pirate radio station in the East End, through a part-thriller, part gay love story that deals with race, class and sexuality against the backdrop of 1970s Britain.
In the long hot summer of 1977, London prepared for the Silver Jubilee celebrations to the sounds of the burgeoning punk, soul and funk scenes.
Soul boys Chris and Caz broadcast their show from a friend’s garage, tussling with the local skinheads, and clubbing with Chris’ music-industry girlfriend Tracy (Sophie Okonedo). But social tensions in the community reach boiling point following the murder of a local black gay man.
With its soulful soundtrack – with Funkadelic, X-Ray Spex, Parliament, Sylvester and more – and enthusiastic young cast, this Cannes Critics’ Week prize-winner is an engaging and sensitive drama from acclaimed artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien.
Blood on Earth: Films from the African and Caribbean Diaspora Launch Party
Join us after the screening for drinks, music and more in the Deptford Cinema bar, celebrating the launch of our new season, Blood on Earth! This is a series of films embracing work which explores the human condition through stories from the African and Caribbean diaspora. The films showcased will cover feminist, LGBTQ+, class, and postcolonial dialogues, and in doing so bring a broad range of perspectives to the screen on a monthly basis.