BEATS

UK, 2019, 101 minutes, Black and white, Colour.
Christian Ortega, Lorn Macdonald, Laura Fraser, Brian Ferguson, Ross Mann, Amy Manson, Rachel Jackson.
Directed by Brian Welsh.

Beats is a story from Scotland but could be from anywhere. The focus is on two young men, not successful at school, good friend since childhood, but idling, no fixed ambitions in life. However, they are enthralled by the music of the time, dancing and gyrating to the beats.

The setting is 1984, a time when there was government legislation forbidding illegal gatherings with loud beach music. This is explained at the opening of the film. It is the time of Tory rule – but Tony Blair is seen on the television.

Lorn Maconald is Spanner, bullied by his brother at home, no fixed aims in life, rather shrewd, a friend since childhood of Jonno, Christian Ortega, who lives at home with his mother (Laura Fraser), his stepfather, the policeman (Brian Ferguson) and a younger brother. They are about to move to a better house. Jonno is unwilling to be uprooted. He works at the supermarket where is dominated by the supervisor. Spanner is always urging him to be more self assertive.

The two young men wander, meet some girls, meet a broadcaster, hear about a rave that is being planned – and they decide to be assertive and go to the rave which is filmed in bright psychedelic colours.

1. A Scots story? Universal?

2. The title, the 1994 legislation about illegal gatherings and loud music? Defiance? (Political background, Tories and government, television interviews with Tony Blair?)

3. Black-and-white photography, the finale in psychedelic colour?

4. The Scots town, homes, flats, supermarkets, warehouses? Authentic feel?

5. The musical score, contemporary music, the importance of the beat? Sanner and Jonno and their enjoyment of the music, moving to the beat, radio, broadcast?

6. The introduction to caps manner, dancing, ousted by his brother, his brother’s nasty bullying, Spanner moving around, meeting up with Jonno, their friendship, long time, shared interests? HIs pushing Jonno to be more self assertive? The two and their friendship with the girls, conversations, music? The broadcast, advertising the illegal Rave? Meeting the pushy personality?

7. Jonno, at home, Robert as his stepfather, his being policeman, Alison, the younger brother, the visits to the prospective house? The importance of the move? Jonno, his work at the supermarket, dominated by the supervisor, Spanner telling him to assert himself? His awkwardness with the girls? His mother forbidding friendship with Spanner, Spanner overhearing it in the cupboard? Jonno and his slapping his face in the mirror, Spanner’s response?

8. The gathering, the police arriving, Robert taking Jonno aside? The warnings? Robert at home, the champagne, Jonno gulping it down, leaving? His mother upset?

9. Spanner and his influence on Jonno, the deciding to go to the rave, despite everything?

10. The finale, everybody gathering, illegal, the music, the beat, and in colour?