Shank

Shank tells the story of a closeted gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo) who is deeply in love with his best friend Jonno (Tom Bott). When Cal stops a senseless beating of college student Olivier (Marc Laurent), Jonno and his girlfriend Nessa (Alice Payne) seek retribution for what they perceive as Cal's betrayal. Their anger grows and tragic consequences ensue when they discover Cal's secret.

Shank is set in a world not usually explored in gay cinema and as a coming out story there is a lot to be admired here. Unfortunately certain aspects of this film never work and that should have been apparent to the film makers early on.

Virgo and Laurent are young, attractive and naked for most of the film but have no chemistry together. At times the audience roared with laughter at Laurent's soppy glances, terrible timing and absurd delivery. Despite what another reviewer has said, this did not "break the tension". These moments simply drew sharp attention to the amateurish mistakes made by the director and the problems with the script.

Marc Laurent's performance as Olivier was dreadful. He might be a passable actor in his native French, but he lacked the experience and talent to give a nuanced performance in English. He simply couldn't convey the necessary combination of vulnerability and strength that would make him desirable to Cal and the audience. I didn't believe that the street tough would go for someone like Olivier.

In contrast, the sexual tension between Cal and Jonno was electric. Tom Bott was completely believable as the sexy and dangerous Jonno. Bott's performance was flawless, subtly portraying a range of complex conflicting emotions.

Alice Payne turned in a promising performance as Nessa, and Wayne Virgo in the lead managed to hold the film together.

Near the end of the film a series of events occur that simply didn't seem plausible in the grander scope of the movie. We are asked to believe that a well-educated adult would act in a manner that contradicts common sense. His decisions are made doubly confusing with the final (contrived) revelation. There are no realistic consequences to the any of the character's actions. We are also subjected to some heavy handed imagery and a few film school clichés.

If you're into queer cinema you will likely find something to enjoy in this first effort from director Simon Pearce. However, I think most audiences, gay or straight, won't find the movie nearly as compelling as it should have been.

I was lucky enough to catch this movie in Bristol. At the L&G festival in Miami the director won the Roger Walker-Dack Award for Emerging Talent in Queer Cinema. From researching the film and hearing the writer/editor and producer in a Q&A afterwards the film takes on a completely different resonance of believability when we learned that the majority of the narrative had been woven from real life events that had taken place in the UK.

All the acting is first rate - with the French boy actually turning out to be French with a genuine accent to boot and not a faked or 'acted' accent. There's an astonishing vulnerability to the lead, a vicious vile portrayal by the female gang leader and some wonderful nuanced acting from the troubled Jonno. All the supporting cast give this film a depth that you wouldn't expect from a low budget independent film with such high production values.

This is a gritty, urban and energetic film that grabs you from frame one and drives you through so many twists and turns that you find your emotions rubbed raw one minute then soothed the next. The final showdown is brutal in it's treatment of pent-up unrequited love between two young men and the biblical aftermath moved many in our audience to tears. The ending provides hope from a dire situation.

Incredible raw camera work carousels you through the lives of these delinquent British youth whilst an urban 'great' soundtrack of hip-hop and rap is beautifully underscored by British composer Barnaby Taylor - whose piano and guitar punctuation at key moments helps bring the arc of the main character's story to an emotional high.

People responded in an animated and engaged way to the screening in Miami with outbursts of laughter at plot points that gave the audience an opportunity to release some of the tension from the scenes of violence. There was also a palpable enjoyment of the more tender and moving moments that never felt gratuitous or deliberate but balanced.

The Miami New Times says of the film "21yr old Director Simon Pearce has taken the bildungsroman, held it up against the wall and punched its face in."

I had to look the word up as well and it means - BILDUNGSROMAN - A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character.

I agree it did punch it in the face.

From the facebook page ( shank cal shank - profile name) for the film it's clear that I'm not alone in my cry of 'bravo' to these innovative and daring film makers - the coming-out genre has been declared dead and buried with this film and SHANK is the new dawn for gay cinema.

Lifting from the facebook page a Toronto audience member has commented:

""It was as close to a sell-out audience as you could get. The crowd seemed to really like it - great round of applause at the end and some laughs and gasps throughout as we reacted to certain scenes. Some great acting by a bunch of fresh talent, esp. Jonno and Cal. I hope it receives more acclaim around the globe. People need to see this - in the vein of Kids."

another audience member from Toronto on their Youtube page commented:

""I also saw the movie in Toronto, too... large audience..... very well received. Beautifully filmed. Great actors! I wondered how someone at 21 could have directed such a well made film. The script must have been well written, too. - I was impressed."

I note that Miami and Toronto are not the only festivals who are screening the film - it appears to be screening all over the world having launched in Melbourne in March - I recommend anyone who's at the 25+ festivals that are listed to go see it.

This all adds up to a 10/10 in my book.....a rarity - film makers for SHANK don't rest on your laurels make another one.....can't wait

I am so glad I finally got around to watching this title. It is by far the most original film with a gay central character that I have seen in a long while and I have seen plenty. Usually I tend to migrate towards foreign language films exploring gay subjects because their cultural take on gay life is oftentimes quite specific and original.

I did not expect such originality from a British film and I can't understand how I missed it.

To the naysayers on here I despair - it takes a brave person to write so convincingly and powerfully on a subject not explored before. The depiction of personal hatred and societal hatred was palpable and real. The making of revealed the myriad sources from which the idea had been researched and the significance of this tour de force really hit home.

OK some of the acting is not quite on a par with more experience actors but the genuine grit and conviction in the performances made up for these excusable inadequacies.

10 out of 10 quite simply British at it's best.

I could go on but I realise I am gushing - but I have to try and counter so much negative nonsense on here. Buy it, don't rent it and don't steal it off an illegal site (like a certain person I know did) - these film makers deserve to get every penny for their effort in the vain hope they make something as good again....

Director Pearce obviously threw himself into this work with all the enthusiasm that a 21-year old can muster. The screenplay is hard-edged and tough, and the entire cast respond well to the director's instructions.

Wayne Virgo and Tom Bolt are particularly impressive; indeed, the entire cast works hard to bring this British indie off. For the most part they succeed in their individual contributions. In fact, it's almost impossible to distinguish the actor's own personalities from the characters they're playing.

Unfortnately, the film looses ground in the final "rumble" scene, which is carried on much too long. Whatever potential it originally had is lost in its prolonged enactment. Post-production editing was required here, and the heart of the drama was drained through over extension. In fact, the entire ending third of the film falters.

The cast cannot be faulted, though. All performances are believable and powerful. The same cannot entirely be said for the youthful director or writers. All in all, a fairly good film that doesn't pull its punches.

Filmed in Bristol, England, UK on a non-existent budget of 20,000 euros (28,000 USD) with a cast made up almost entirely of first-timers to feature film, "Shank" is one of my all time favorites.

"Shank" is the story of teenaged "scallie" gang banger, Cal (Wayne Virgo), who is realizing his true desire for other men. In particular, his best friend and fellow gang member Jonno (Tom Bott) with whom he shares several very intimately awkward moments. His gang is known for filming the beatings that they frequently dish out to innocent bystanders. However, when the gang jumps an attractive young gay man, Olivier (Marc Laurant), Cal reaches his breaking point stopping the beating.

Having left his gang stranded to go and help the bloodied young man, Cal is now the target of their rage. Can these two young men from opposing worlds and different understandings of oneself survive all that is thrown their way? Directed by 21 year old Simon Pearce, "Shank" is a gritty and unapologetic look at a coming-out story that has never been seen before. Wayne Virgo is an extremely talented newcomer, who also happens to be a gorgeous young man with great attributes which are seen throughout out the movie.

"Shank" is violent and unsettling at times, sensual and compassionate at others, and has a well-balanced use of intimacy and nudity. All of which is necessary to truly tell this story of self-discovery and love. Most importantly it pulls you into the story from the moment it starts and holds you til the very end. Making you care for and feel for the characters, "Shank" is a perfect blend of every element that a good movie is made of.

With it's gripping script (written by Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin), beyond-their-years-in-talent acting, and superb direction and cinematography, "Shank" is a low-budget film that can stand against any Hollywood powerhouse...

Just letting you know...