Steven Berkoff's social satire about two couples reliving their youth from the 1950's on Brighton beach was written back in 1994 when the play may have had more resonance with an audience as society began to be more tolerant and understanding as we climbed out of a more racist and bigoted era, especially in the East End of London where these characters are from, however it doesn't ring true in 2019 when this film version was made because some of the derogatory language seems too forced, outdated and caricatured. The film also bludgeons the audience over the head with the points it makes in showing the older generation the error of their ways.
Being in my late 50's myself I can understand where this film is coming from and what Berkoff was trying to achieve in exposing racism in UK society, the older generation refusing to accept immigrants living amongst them and the consequences of living in the past. A younger audience will certainly not empathise with these characters as they hark back to their perceived simpler times and mourning the loss of the British Empire.
While I enjoyed the performances from the four leads Larry Lamb, Phil Davies, Marion Baily and Lesley Sharp this comedy drama is not for all tastes and it comes too late to make any real impact as society has moved on a great deal however the older generation will get it. Shame they didn't make more use of Brighton as a location because this could really be set anywhere.
