Shane Meadows hits the spot with this short but sweet slice of good natured comedy, surprisingly, as it's essentially an extended black & white advert for a train station.
Shane Meadows hits the spot with this short but sweet slice of good natured comedy, surprisingly, as it's essentially an extended black & white advert for a train station.
Dead Man's Shoes and This Is England director Shane Meadows takes the helm for this monochromatic childhood drama concerning two young friends living in London, and their efforts not to turn out like their aimless fathers. Tomo has just turned 16, and as a result he's no longer under parental care. Eager to escape the Midlands and seek out a better life in London, Tomo sets out for the big city and strikes up a friendship with Polish immigrant Marek while traversing the streets of Somers Town.
Marek is a quiet and sensitive boy who harbors a growing interest in photography and still lives with his father. But Marek's father is a hopeless drunk, and doesn't even notice when his son invites Tomo to share their apartment. Most days, Tomo and Marek are content to pass earning some quick cash from an eccentric neighbor, wandering the streets, and admiring a pretty French waitress named Maria who works at a nearby café. Eventually, the two become obsessed with the girl and begin tracking her every move. But one day Maria simply vanishes, leaving the boys to feel as if they have lost their muse. Later that night, Tomo and Marek decide to dull their pain by sharing a bottle. Of course, it's this very same night that Marek's father discovers his son has taken in a new roommate, and Tomo is swiftly evicted. As a result, the growing bond between the two boys is put to the ultimate test. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Somers Town is a funny and endearing character comedy whose extra-brief, 70-minute running time proves perfectly adequate for its slender, episodic story.
A small but important film about small but important lives, the latest drama from Shane Meadows further confirms that more people should know about this gifted director.
A verite touch of observation, Somers Town is kind and airy, a perfect cinematic meal for someone in need of small pleasures, explored through Meadows's undeniable taste in locations and near-masterful work with actors.
...Meadows' method of working with improvised scenes shot in long takes gives it a sense of emotional truth which is lacking in many more ambitious films.
Turgoose continues to convince as a kid whose personality wavers daily if not hourly, while Jagiello playfully suggests that Marek is becoming the perfect straight man.
Shot in the same beautifully desolate black-and-white as Meadows' boxing film TwentyFourSeven, Somers Town takes on the feel of dreamlike instant nostalgia.
As in all of Meadows's films, Somers Town emphasizes the importance of character and particularly of camaraderie amongst male characters--here, teenagers who nick clothes from the local laundry, get drunk in the park, and furtively investigate masculinity
What Somers Town lacks in story arc, it makes up for in charm, as Meadows and company create an endearing and thoroughly enjoyable portrait of a young British bromance.
It may seem slight but Meadows is a master of the art of revealing human foibles and weaknesses, which means the film lingers long after its extremely modest running time. A wee gem.
Well..this is a fine example of a really nice little film that I'm not sure why I liked. But I did. Alot. I thought that the antics of these two boys were really entertaining. I like the whole feel of the movie, soundtrack and all.
I love Shane Meadows, like I've said countless times, he is a savour to British film. In Somers Town he takes it down a notch after the success of This is England, a well thought out move, admirable and wise. It's a shame then that what could have been a sweet little film turns out to be so disappointing. Its got the
great Perry Benson in a supporting role and young Thomas Turgoose is maturing into a great actor. I also liked the scenes with the Polish Father and Son, I thought they were quite sweet and touching. On the whole however, Somers Town is totally lacking in magic, or at least the comforting feel of Meadows's previous work. It's not at all bad, it's just nothing special.
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