The Feral Generation (2007)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Andrew Jones

Writer:

Andrew Jones (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

They are wild,unwanted and trying to live without fear. They are The Feral Generation.

Plot:

In 2004, a Home Office survey revealed that there are 20 to 60 youngsters,aged 16 to 24,living rough in each inner city in the UK...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Brooke Kinsella	...	Nikki
Ray Panthaki	...	Vincent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richie Bessant	...	Guy #2
Katie Borland	...	Lorraine
Kit Brennan	...	Squatter #1
Oliver Brennan	...	Prison Officer #2
Stuart Brennan	...	Dave
Gareth Brooks	...	Guy #3
Andrew Burrell	...	Prison Officer
Andrea Coombs	...	Jean
Scott Delap	...	Guy #1
Stephen Donnelly	...	Scatt
Paul Evangelides	...	Crack Den Wino
Hari Hickinson	...	Rudy
Jamie Hinde	...	The Interviewer
Grainne Joughin	...	Sky
Mads Koudal	...	Paul
Lee Lewis	...	Petrol Station Cashier #2
Stephen Lewis	...	Petrol Station Cashier #1
Keeley Malone	...	Carmel
Tom McKay	...	Crackhead
Danny Panthaki	...	Cameraman
Andrew Slater	...	Teen
Nathan Sussex	...	Businessman
Gareth Wyn-Jones	...	Shopkeeper

Runtime:

UK:90 min | UK:100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18

Filming Locations:

Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company:

Urban Way Productions

Trivia:

Police were called by local residents twice during filming. The first occasion was prior to the opening scene when residents thought that the production designers taking the wheels off a car to be used for filming were in fact stealing it. The second occasion was during a scene in which a character is beaten and mugged in an alleyway. Local residents heard the screams and thought a real assault was taking place.

Soundtrack:

JOLT

Hard-hitting, emotional.

The Feral Generation marks Andrew Jones' second feature following his low-fi debut "Teenage Wasteland" and now backed with a professional crew to fully realize his creative vision he is in his element with this tale of love in the most unlikeliest of places.

Taking the romance genre and planting it within the world of the UK's ever-growing homeless population, Jones succeeds in presenting a grittily realistic account of life on the streets that does not shy away from the ugliness of violence hitting its viewers hard with a measured, considerate shooting style that feels deeply unsettling yet never exploitative. As we follow the fate of our central protagonists played with searing honesty by both Ray Panthaki and Brooke Kinsella, we are forced head first into a nightmare world of regrets and desperation.

However, had it simply been just a series of downers The Feral Generation would not be able to sustain its running time. Thankfully, through Jones' writing and the casts performances the film is imbued with a striking honesty in its portrayal of this lovelorn couple, not afraid to present their emotions in as raw a light as possible the dialogue (though stylized) really hits home and gives the film a much needed emotional core.

Unlike the numerous rom-coms that fill our screens on a weekly basis, this is a couple that the audience genuinely cares about, sure they have their flaws and there are moments where you may or may not agree with their actions, but these imperfections only serve to ground them in reality and the turmoil's they face cast a very dark shadow that falls far beyond the confines of the screen.

A highly recommended, vastly superior second feature The Feral Generation is sure to leave a lasting impact.