Bypass

Watching Bypass really brought me into the lives and experiences of Tim and Lilly, played respectively by George Mackay and Charlotte Spencer. The feeling of being helpless to whatever fate befalls you is enduring, and a reflection on the current malaise of Britain's youth who have been abandoned by today's ambitious, quick fix society. The film was well crafted, with excellent cinematography, soundtrack and foley that helped to create the atmosphere and prevailing sense of unease, and which was complemented excellently by the superb performance of George Mackay, and actor who will surely achieve great things. There is no generic start or ending to Tim's story, but a snippet of the lives of the characters that surround him, and it leaves you with a feeling of compassion for the characters and their future.

Great performances by a strong cast but what a depressing film. My life is like that most of the time anyway so I didn't really need this further dose of reality.

No explanation of what Tim's medical condition was either. What was the point of that ?

'A Britain within a Britain' - Bypass is a film that captures the life of those in a post-industrial world. Where Thatcher's legacy is the choice between going hungry or sleeping in a cold room.

I found this film to be a breath of fresh air and a step down a path British cinema hasn't delved for far too long. Portrayals of the working class have become a rarity and austerity has become the norm. To find a film that isn't another form of escapism but has the bravery to point the camera at our own lives should be applauded.

Third Films always reward those that delve deeper into their work, and Bypass is no exception, it is rife with metaphors and solemn themes that act as the undercurrent within the film, adding gravity to the choices Tim must make.

The narrative picks up a swift pace, coupled with the striking cinematography of David Procter, I found myself being pulled through some intense scenes, especially when Tim's illness (a reflection of the world he lives in) begins to take hold. Each pause from the action only adds to the weight on Tim's shoulders which builds and builds to a climactic finish.

George Mackay delivers a performance that makes it hard not to sympathise with Tim's plight, making it hit home that Bypass' setting isn't diegetic, but a place many of us live in.

Is morality a luxury? Bypass provides the platform to reflect upon this. It's a film that at the moment may only be liked if the 'in crowd' say it's cool. It is cool. It's one of those films that in twenty years time film tutors will automatically suggest their more insightful students watch but why wait? It not only washes the viewer into its own world beautifully by its striking cinematography and sound score that slow dive may gleefully dive towards but more importantly it enables its viewer to think. It enables its viewer to ask why. It enables and instigates its viewer to empathize, really empathize, not feel moved then ten minutes out of the cinema lose the feeling and never remember why. Maybe that's too easy, maybe that's what society wants now, quick bursts of highs and lows with no consequence. Every action, even no action brings reaction. The question is, why aren't we pulling over and is morality a luxury? Personally I thought this film was one of the most important I've had the luxury of seeing for quite some time.

An incredibly fluid narrative which powerfully portrays the on-going confusion and despair faced on a daily basis by the central character. Whilst the people out to get him continually change, his living in perpetual fear and anxiety doesn't. The radical approach to the storytelling feels exciting and original, adding a very believable, claustrophobic feel to a life lived in a grim reality. There is nothing Tim can do and nowhere he can go to change his situation because, like the audience, at no point does he have the whole picture. Instead he has to deal with everything that is thrown at him without any support or understanding. The performances are excellent and the film is a devastating watch.