ROCKS | FILM REVIEW
Dir: Sarah Gavron (12A, 93 mins)
An authentic glimpse into the life of teenagers, Rocks is a heartfelt study of one girl’s life after it is turned upside down, and although gritty it retains a real sense of joy. Bukky Bakray is the titular Rocks whose mother unexpectedly leaves home, leaving her on her own to raise and provide for her brother, Emmanuel (D’angelou Osei Kissiedu). Her plight is further complicated by the arrival of a new girl at school, which shifts her peer dynamics. Best friend Sumaya, a winning Kosar Ali, stays by her side as she deals with the fresh challenges life throws at her and tries to keep her beleaguered family unit together.
Rocks is forced to abandon her home in a bid to avoid social services, not wanting to be separated from Emmanuel. She falls upon the goodwill of friends, who want the best for her – although she can’t see it. The challenges of getting money to pay for a B&B and food become overwhelming, and school is abandoned. It’s an insight into the vagaries of family with mental health issues and the social services and the desperate plight of those who may fall through the cracks, all told with humanity and care.
Workshopped and improvised by London teenagers for months, then shaped by writer Theresa Ikoko and director Sarah Gavron, this has a unique perspective and a unique voice, hardly ever heard in British cinema. The young cast equip themselves brilliantly, with Bakray excellent as the resilient youngster – combining immaturity and responsibility through moments of heartbreak and hilarity. Rocks feels documentary-like, as the teenage girls banter and break down, guided skillfully by director Gavron in a truly immersive slice of storytelling. Raw and ultimately uplifting with the power of female friendship at its core, this is a film to seek out where you can.
words KEIRON SELF
In cinemas and VOD now