YOUNG NEW DIVERSE BRITISH TALENT STAR IN ‘ROCKS’!
2nd September 2020
Hollywood doors were wide open for Sarah Gavron after the success of her ‘Suffragette’ (2015) – a female-centered drama about the suffragette movement growing in the ‘20s, starring acclaimed names such as Carrey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and the great Meryl Streep herself. Instead, she took a step back and 5 years later, she returns with yet another movie that seems to follow her original intentions when going into directing – ‘to make a difference’, as she once said. ‘Rocks’, the latest entry in her filmography, puts young teenage girls black, brown and white at the centre, making this a landmark as far as the British indie scene is concerned.
This heartwarming story written by Theresa Ikoko and Claire Wilson, follows teen ‘Rocks’ – who needs to take care of her younger brother, Emmanuel, after their mother abandons them.
Set in Hackney, it allows us to see the world through the eyes of a child brought up in poverty – a child that is almost forced to grow up too early in order to deal with the obstacles in her way, a task that is both heartbreaking and impossible. That youthful innocence is the heart of the story – while looking after her younger brother who she’s not emotionally or physically equipped to raise on her own. Rocks still has to attend school, get involved in shenanigans with her friends and deal with the classic teenage drama. The film hits all the right notes, repeating only the truthful of the clichés and yet avoiding stereotypes. In fact, for the viewers who grew up in Hackney and its surroundings, the story, the setting, the apparel, the language may be a mirror image – an all-too-familiar look at their own lives, their friends or simply people they may have crossed paths with. It’s been five years since Gavron’s last film and the director took time to do her due diligence and deliver a coming-of-age drama that fits the mold of the British social realism cinema without reiterating stories we have seen before. Led by a multicultural cast of young talented girls, the director is exploring the territory too easily dismissed by her peers and spotlighting talent that has a much harder mountain to climb in order to be featured in this industry.
Rocks skips London’s most picturesque areas that reappear in not only the UK’s own, but also North American and International movies. The bright photography that introduces us to South London is captivating in its simplicity, with the director opting for a slice-of-life environment as opposed to the artistic background we associate with the capital. For an indie film that tackles a problem rooted in social class and community, the cinematography is very complementary, and it adds colours to the bleak reality of Rocks’ uncertain predicament. It would be hard to criticize Gavron’s new feature, because it is a traditional dish with a new, fresh take on it that delivers exactly what you would expect and yet, still manages to surprise you. Most importantly, it is a proof that this uncharted territory – with the majority of the first time actors representing minorities often ignored – has untapped potential that deserves and, in fact, has to be explored further. It is a step in the right direction and a postcard for inclusion and diversity.
Coming out September the 18th, ‘Rocks’ is more than worth your time – it’s deserving of it – and can be seen in Vue, at the BFI Southbank, Curzon, as well as Picturehouse. Now, go get your tickets and show some support!
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