Review: SOMERS TOWN

SOMERS TOWN was written by Paul Fraser (HEARTLANDS) and directed by Shane Meadows (THIS IS ENGLAND). Both also worked together on ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS, returning to bring this coming of age story to the screen. The film follows two young teenage boys from different backgrounds who happen upon each other and become an awkward sort of best mates. SOMERS TOWN is a tale of friendship that circumvents social barriers and obstacles.

Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) is a redheaded boy from East Midlands in England, having arrived in London on his own account with no place to go and no one to call his friend. He’s quickly preyed upon by a small gang of teenage hoodlums who take what little possessions he has. Tomo now must fend for himself without food, clothes or money and ultimately begins to employ some of the same traits as the boys who mugged him in the name of survival.

Marek (Piotr Jagiello) is a socially inept Polish boy living with his hard-working father in England. With his mother having left them, his father at work during the day and drunk at night, Marek finds himself living a lonely and solitary life on his own. His one interest in daily life is a beautiful French cafe waitress named Maria (Elisa Lasowski) whom he calls his girlfriend. She’s a tad older than Marek, but adores his sweet, innocent demeanor.

Tomo and Marek’s relationship begins on rocky terrain, as Tomo snatches photographs of Maria taken by Marek in the cafe. The initial butting of heads between the two boys rapidly transcends into an unlikely friendship, a mutual melding of opposites that compliment each other. Tomo’s influence allows Marek to finally come out of his shell a bit, while Marek’s influence over Tomo begins to develop a sense of work ethic and decency. The one binding thread of their relationship is a mutual infatuation with Maria.

SOMERS TOWN also paints an honest portrait of life growing up without life’s luxuries in London. The film is shot in black and white cinema verite, with heavy grain and slightly overexposed lighting. The unrefined visual quality of the film adds a great deal to the story. The original music in SOMERS TOWN was created by Gavin Clark and Ted Barnes. This acoustic soundtrack is a wonderful addition and maintains an even, consistent tone throughout the film. This is one soundtrack worth picking up on it’s own.

The movie is primarily driven by Tomo and Marek. Their dialogue develops their friendship and we get to see the two characters unfold and absorb a number of first experiences. Both characters have rich accents, which play off one another in a curious way. As the two friends reach a sort of developmental peak, they decide to take a trip at the end, which is the first time the film enters the world of color, representing a true blossoming of the two characters into newly enlightened young men.

Overall, SOMERS TOWN is a simple but masterful film, worthy of praise for it’s nostalgia. The film feels like watching old super-8 home movies of friends from a time past. This is a reflective film, encouraging the audience to adapt it’s story to their own lives. SOMERS TOWN will not inspire awe, shock or controversy, but it should leave the audience leaving the theatre feeling refreshed, just like having watched a nearly forgotten string of celluloid memories recently rediscovered deep within the cobwebs and dust of the attic.