YARDIE


UK, 2018, 104 minutes, Colour.
Aml Ameen, Mark Rhino Smith, Fraser James, Shantol Jackson, Naomi Ackie.
Directed by Idris Elba.

Over the last 20 years there have been many British gangster films. However, the protagonists of these films tend to be English gangsters, white, robbers and murderers, double dealers, blackmailers. There are some black characters but not prevalent.

This British gangster film is different. The focus is on Kingston Jamaica in the 1970s and then on London in the 1970s and 1980s. The protagonists are all West Indian.

Interestingly, the film is the directing debut of actor Idris Elba, British-born, best known for action television series like Luther and for some tough films. Although, in the year in which Yardie was made, he appeared in the Stephen King adaptations, The Dark Tower, as a hero warrior, then as a romantic lead with Kate Winslet in The Mountain Between Us, and finally a very fine performance as a lawyer in Molly’s Game. He does not appear on screen in this film.

The film opens with gangs in Kingston. A young lad, D. has great admiration for his brother who is involved with the gangs, a driver, but also a composer of music. The music scene in Jamaica is very important. When his brother is shot dead, D is in a rage, wanting vengeance on the killer. The film also shows innocent people, schoolgirls, being shot in the gangs’ crossfire. One girl who survives, Yvonne, is in a relationship with D and they have a child – however, to escape the violence, she moves to London.

When D is in his early 20s (and played by Aml Ameen), he is under the patronage of a local kingpin (in both drugs and music), King Fox. D is sent on a mission to London to deliver drugs, successfully getting through customs, finding the dance hall where his contact presides. The local kingpin is Rico (Stephen Graham doing a West Indian in London impersonation and accent). Whatever the reason, D decides to keep the drugs for himself and sell them to other dealers.

What follows is what might be expected in this kind of film. Rico wants vengeance and sends out thugs. D tracks down Yvonne and discovers his daughter but Yvonne wants him out of the house. In the meantime he is attacked by three young men who want the drugs to pay for their band instruments. But, D gets the better of them and finds a dealer who is in contact with Turkish dealers in London. D also manages to discover Clancy who was the man who pulled the trigger on his brother.

There is violent rivalry and gunfights. There is music, competitions with D using his brother’s songs.

When King Fox arrives in London, there are explanations of what has happened in the past, not quite what we expected, and violent solutions to what is happening in the present.

In one sense, nothing new as regards gangster films and drug dealing, but the focus on Jamaica and the West Indian gangs in London does make it different. A tough film.

1. The title? West Indian background? In England?

2. A gangster story, British, the tradition of British gangster films? The differences with the background in the West Indies?

3. Jamaica in the 1970s, London in the 1980s? The West Indies, the countryside, the gangs, drugs, music, control, violence and deaths?

4. The Jamaican locations, the city of Kingston, the neighbourhood, homes, the villages in the countryside? The criminal world, the gangs, the areas and the shootouts?

5. London, the 1980s, Gatwick and customs, the London streets, the dance halls, flats, the streets? The world of the dealers? The city Estates and flats?

6. The musical score, West Indian traditional? West Indian songs, the lyrics – leading to rap?

7. D, his voice-over narrative, the diagram of the righteous path and the path of evil? I as his mental, offering the choices? His age, devotion to his brother, Jimmy Fred, the strong influence, taking D on the trips, warning him off the violence? The admiring his brother, following him? The world of music, Jimmy and his lyrics, D and his jobs, the drugs, the dangers? The murders?

8. Jim’s death, D and his grief, smashing? His not mourning his brother in the perfect ritual of the Nine Night? His nails, Clancy’s target? And the later flashbacks to these episodes?

9. The gangs, shootings in the streets, the names of the gangs, the leaders? The crossfire, Claudette killed in the crossfire? Yvonne and her presence?

10. D, his relationship with the von, growing older, her leaving Kingston, going to London, her daughter? Her wanting to let go?

11. The role of King Fox, music, patronage for Deed? The mission, the role, the job, going to London? The deal, and in the drugs over to Rico? King Fox on the phone calls? Later going to London, his explanation of Jimmy’s death, the explanation of Clancy’s participation?

12. Rico, his thugs, control, some seeing him as a liability, is seen himself superior? D and the confrontation, not handing over the drugs, standing his ground? Escape, the pursuit, the guns and street?

13. D and his going to see the von, discovering Vanessa, Yvonne’s reaction, wanting him out? His hiding the drugs, her finding them?

14. The three young thugs, coming into the house, guns, de-getting control of them? His interrogation, the brother and his contact with the Turkish dealers? The aim of the men, to have a band, to buy the equipment? The discussion, the possibility for sales, the prophets and their being used?

15. D, rekindling his love for Yvonne, her response? His love for his daughter? In the park, the abduction, his searching for Vanessa? The folks coming to the hospital, confronting evil, saying this was a rehearsal for the real thing? Yvonne’s reaction? Wanting De-out?

16. The church, the singing, the celebration, the welcoming of D? The singer, later coming to the home, trying to talk sense into D?

17. Clancy, his story, being seen in London? His work with the amplifiers? Mona, his child? The phone call, de-coming to confront him? The folks pursuing? D and his car, the young musician, supporting D, dying in the crossfire? The funeral, the speeches about the wasted life?

18. Yvonne, going to see Clancy’s wife, confrontation?

19. Fox, contact with Rico, coming to London, Rico’s death? The shootouts?

20. Importance of music, D and his brother’s songs, singing? The competition? The rivalry between the young group, High Noon, and Rico’s group?

21. A film about vengeance, vengeance consuming someone, the attempts to help him to let go, family? The violence and the consequences? Possibility for a better life?