Pamela Kokoszka respects a director who stands his own ground.
Ill Manors (2012) was the first full length feature film directed by Plan B – real name Ben Drew – who was born in Forest Gate, where the film is set. Ben is a rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, film director and producer.
The film follows the lives of eight characters over the course of seven days during which they all have to fight to gain respect, and survive on East End streets. Each of their stories is represented by a different rap song performed by Plan B.
The main protagonist Aaron (played by Rix Ahmed) is a young man tangled up in drugs and violence, but it is clear that he is trying to do the right thing. His friend Ed (Ed Skrein) is a racist thug and drug dealer who will stop at nothing to find his missing phone.
Other characters include Michelle (Anouska Mond) who is just looking for her next hit; Chris (Lee Allen) who is seeking revenge for his sister; Kirkby (Keith Cogging) who has just been released from prison; and Katya (Natalie Press) who recently escaped from a Russian whorehouse. As the film progresses we are introduced to hookers, drug addicts, gangsters, street children, pub owners and other people struggling to survive.
I(ll Manors is full-on, and exposes the viewer to two hours of murder, assault, sexual abuse and drugs. Every scene in the film is powerful, but uncomfortable to watch. The language is also relentlessly foul, featuring thy C-word in the first bit of dialogue. There is also no attempt made to pace the violence, which starts within minutes of the start.
Ill Manors has many flaws, which include the fact that the story does not really come together until the last 30 minutes, but it nevertheless feels like an important film.
Why, because instead of looking down on the chavs and other objects of public disdain who are portrayed in the film, it asks us to understand them. Most importantly iII Manors avoids the clichés that would have resulted had it been made by someone who did not know the world that it portrays – whereas Ben Drew knows it very well.