A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS

UK, 1999, 95 minutes, Colour.
Andrew Shim, Ben Marshall, Paddy Considine, Frank Harper, Ladine Hall, Vicki McClure?, Julia Ford, James Higgins.
Directed by Shane Meadows.

A Room for Romeo Brass is set in a small town in Nottinghamshire, the story of two 12-year-olds who are friends. It is semi-autobiographical material from Shane Meadows and his friend from his childhood, screenwriter Paul Fraser. The two boys and their families live next door to each other. They are in each other's company all the time until an eccentric man saves them from a fight, is attracted towards Romeo's sister and courts her, takes on a father figure role for Romeo, but is ultimately quite destructive and mad. The breached friendship between the two boys needs to be healed.

Shane Meadows made the very effective 24/7. He uses a number of the same cast and Bob Hoskins for this film. However, the performances of the boys are not particularly strong, especially Ben Marshall as the white boy. The adults are very strong, especially Paddy Considine as the mad and violent adult.

The film shows life on an English estate, family troubles and break-ups, but it also highlights the nature of childhood, the fragility of friendships and the need for bonds between friends.

1.A British slice of life of the '90s? The nature of friendship? Family? Parental figures? Hurt, reconciliation?

2. The Nottinghamshire locations, the town, the naturalism of the atmosphere and locations? The musical score - and the range of songs making comment on the action?

3. The focus on the two boys, their initial walk, the nature of the relationship between the two? Romeo and his background, mixed race? Gavin and his very English attitude? His bad back and the need for the operation? Their happiness together? In each other's houses? Talking things over? The humorous sequence of the sex magazines? Romeo saving Gavin in the fight? The intervention of Morell? Saving the boys? But alienating Romeo from Gavin? Gavin's hurt at being neglected? Going into hospital and no farewell? Romeo coming to his senses, the disillusionment with Morell? The reconciliation? The talk in Gavin's room, the magic, the humour of the finale with Gavin and his magic and Romeo his assistant?

4. The character of Romeo: age, size, being hungry, dominant partner? Protecting Gavin? The nature of their conversations? The sex magazines? The food and Romeo eating? His relationship with his mother, his sister, lying about the food? The return of his father and his strong antagonism towards him? The fight, the friendship with Morell, Gavin and Romeo making jokes, Morell's clothes? Romeo becoming more friendly with Morell, the rides, the fight with his father, going to Morell's house? The martial and manly attitude? The clashes, his sister falling out with Morell? Morell's brutality in the house? The confrontation with Gavin's father, Romeo's father dominating him? Romeo and his seeing things more clearly, reconciling with Gavin?

5. The character of Gavin, white background, his illness? His friendship, his room, his reading, his capacity for writing? The operation? Joining with Romeo in the jokes with Morell? Being abandoned, the operation? Listening to what was happening? His relationship with his mother, his father and the sex magazines? Seeing his parents more clearly? The tutor coming, the classes, his writing, the tutor falling asleep? The reconciliation with Romeo and his assertiveness?

6. Morell and his stopping the fight in the field? Audience sympathy towards him? His attraction towards Romeo's sister, his returning, coming in, the cup of tea, the mad story about his wrestling with the powerful force and his demons? His courting the sister, the new clothes and the boys sending him up? Serious, trying to have a sense of humour - and the intimations of his being abused when he was a child? The outings with the sister? Bringing her home, the sexual come-on and her revulsion? The fight with Romeo's father? Taking Romeo to his house, the military attitudes and his denunciation of Romeo? His stalking the sister, bashing her alleged boyfriend? His confrontation at the house, the threats to Gavin's father? Joe and his saving the day? Morell's madness and violence - and nobody helping him? His future?

7. Romeo's mother and sister, the separation from the father, at home, his sister's work, attractive, saying yes to Morell for politeness' sake, the outing and the drink, her wariness about his stories? His gifts? The sexual come-on and her reaction? Her patience towards her father and supporting him, giving him some money? Romeo's mother, her background, the disillusionment with her husband? His coming back, her quandary what to do, creating tension within the family? Wanting him out?

8. Gavin's parents, ordinary, clashes, love for each other, concern for Gavin? The operation? The tutor? The final confrontation and Morell intimidating Gavin's father, his collapse? The bonds between them all?

9. The atmosphere of the town, the young hooligans in the field, the physiotherapist, the salesman (Meadows himself) at the fish and chip shop? The shops, pubs?

10. The tutor, his support of Gavin - but his going to sleep?

11. The finale with the children bringing their families together? The newly re-found friendship? A slice of life? Portrait of good and evil? Struggles, family dysfunction? Love and friendship?