Young Soul Rebels

Unfortunately by choosing to set the film in such a specific time it has lost relevance. Added to the utterly clunky script and the dire and wooden acting it makes me wonder if and how the film ever was a success.

The murder angle was a complete mystery to me. Why did it happen? How come the victim didn't recognise the killer? That the murder and its (sort of) solving framed the film seemed totally extraneous. Why didn't Chris also get murdered?

Between this we got a disconnected story of a couple of black lads one of whom was openly gay and seemingly not getting stick for it on his rough council estate.

Lovemaking scenes - both gay and straight ones - were vastly unconvincing especially between Caz and his new punk amour. After this latter all I could think was "Was that all?".

I watched this because of an article in the Guardian detailing the "20 Best LGB Films". A couple of the choices on the list surprised me and I didn't think they deserved to be there. Nor does this dreadful effort either.

I am amazed at the lack of knowledge displayed by the previous reviewer. I first saw this film in the 90s and watched it again last night. I was part of this general scene in southern England at that time and I have to say that the music, dancing and fashions are completely accurate. This nonsense about Afros and flares, that belonged in the early 70s, by 77 all that had changed. And yes, punks and soul boys were mixing in the clubs, fashions crossed over even earlier, the plastic "jelly" sandals and winkle picker shoes, all adopted from the punks in late 76/77.If anybody had walked in with flares there would have been howls of laughter.

firstly this film has some mistakes in it,i was a soul girl back int he day,punks and soul boys weren't pally,but not enemies either,the didn't go to the same clubs,the fashion is correct but the music is out of time ,some of the music came out maybe up to 2 years later,that apart it does pick up the atmosphere of the day and the vibe and is at least acknowledging the soul scene,and the cult of soul boys and girls ,a major thing,but very unknown which is odd,i guess the write must have a bit of info of the movement,still as a fun film its OK and does bring a few

memories i think unless you were part of the scene you would find this

a bit dull,it is hollow ,but the clothes and dancing are all spot on,although gay guys did have there own disco clubs,again fairly underground as back then it wasn't as tolerated as it is,rightly so,now as so many other films have been made about punks and skinheads it god to see a movie reflecting a little known but extremely popular movement

Been a long time since I saw this movie, but whenever I think of it, or even just hear that song from the soundtrack, I feel all happy and <ahem> gay. Funny thing is, I went back to see what I'd noted about it at the time (1991), and apparently I'd only considered it a so-so film!

So, yes, perhaps the story line was a bit flimsy, perhaps all of the movie didnt amount to a whole much ... but if the memory of it still makes me smile after ten years, it must've been a lot better than I'd originally realised! ;-)

Firstly, lets get the negatives ironed out and set the record straight.

Yes, the plot gets a bit lost towards the end, yes some of the acting is questionable, yes some of the storyline is a little far fetched. If we judged every film we saw on those merits alone we'd be very shallow people! Thank heavens British Cinema gets away with making films like this, that represent British History, Culture and lifestyle in a non-conformist, sensitive and "path less trodden" view.

Yes it has a gay story line... and to correct another review only ONE of the two central characters is gay. What sets this film apart if we are discussing it within the genre of "Gay films" is that it tackles the delicate issue of men of Afro-Caribbean descent being gay in an interesting and uncompromising way. It doesn't pander to our expectations/stereotypical view of gay men, and utilises the sexuality angle as an integral part of the whole plot. "Jeffery" it aint! Nuff Said!

The whole story is set in the Summer of 1977 - the Queens Silver Jubilee. Chris & Caz run "Soul Patrol" - a pirate radio station that plays Jazz Funk - marginalised at the time by Punk and Reggae. One of their close friend's is murdered in the park, and Chris finds a piece of evidence as to who the killer is.

The film is Directed by Isaac Julien, who was shortlisted for a Turner Prize recently (2002) (A prestigious UK award within the art community) Julien has captured, by use of location (Dalston - East London) Lighting (capturing the hot summer of '77 perfectly) and Music (the soundtrack is a gem - Roy Ayers, Funkadelic, Blackbyrds etc) a mood and feeling that I've felt from no other film.

In some ways "Young Soul Rebels" was ahead of its time, and was badly marketed and has been aired very little since its release in 1991. Its "Celebration & Integration" message is how we now live, as a mixed race/sexuality culture here in the Major towns of the UK today... it seems such a shame to mis-label it "A gay film" when there is clearly more to it than that.