LIFE AND LYRICS

UK, 2006, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ashley Walters, Louise Rose, Christopher Steward.
Directed by Richard Laxton.

Another trend in British film-making in recent years, along with ethnic comedies and dramas with Indian and Pakistani casts, is the film about black Londoners. As the actor Ashley Walters has said, he would prefer to see films about his own world and experiences and would go to sleep during Four Weddings and a Funeral. Walters himself appeared in a strong black drama, Bullet Boy. Another 2006 film on black students in London schools was Kidulthood.

The title indicates that songs and music are an important part of the life of this film. We see a young man, Danny, (Walters, himself a singer as well as actor) who writes songs and records them with his friends. Meantime, he works in a record store which specialises in vinyl and is going out of business. There is also a local rap competition (as in the US film with Eminem, 8 Mile) which aggravates the rivalry between different groups. When Danny is attracted to a young woman, Carmen, from an affluent background working in a solicitor’s office, they begin an affair which has emotional consequences for friends and relatives and leads to gun violence.

Danny’s friend from the orphanage, Fable, is searching for his birth mother and is upset that Danny is neglecting him and his friends. Carmen’s cousin is the right hand man to the leader of the rival rap group who is jealous of Carmen. The climax is the rap clash, with its poetic insults, and a shooting.

The film is well made and has some force even though the characters and many of the incidents are what we might expect. It is a glimpse into another London world, another lifestyle, another set of dreams and ambitions.

1.A London story? The various parts of London, rich and poor, the gangs? The music world of London suburbs? The blending of these themes?

2.The authentic settings, the filming in the streets, South London, the flats, the clubs, the studios? The contrast with the more affluent suburbs?

3.The title, the relationship of the lyrics to people’s lives, the songs, the writers? The fact that Ashley Walters and Louise Rose are singers and musicians? Authentic feel? Despite the contrived nature of the story, the events?

4.The background of rap songs, the US popularity, black rap, Eminem and the contests? Rap in London, the Mic Masters competition? The vigour of the contests, the black rap, the verbal skills, the verse, the insults, the response of the audience and the applause? The Motion Crew versus the Hard Cash Crew? The return to the competition at the end, symbol of the story, the competitiveness, hard? Leading to violence and death?

5.Danny, his relationship with his group, leader, the bonds, singing, lyrics? His friendship with Fable and their growing up in the orphanage? Relying on each other? The other members of the group, their musical skills, friendship? Family? The music, the rap songs, the hopes for records, their testing out recordings, together as friends? Danny as a character in this context?

6.Carmen and her background, her work, training in law, her wealth, family, Danny attracted to her, following her, their being together, the bonds, Danny moving away from Fable? Fable’s anger? Carmen’s cousin, cash flow? Tensions, the jealousies, Money Man and his jealousy? The money, the gangs, the danger?

7.Danny and his working at the shop, vinyl records and their going out, changes, fewer customers, the owner and his selling the shop?

8.The character of Fable, a friend, from orphanage days, the bonds between the two, the beginnings of the bonds breaking, Fable and his seeking out his mother, going to visit, her reaction, her husband sending him away, the mother finally contacting him, moving away from London, the possibility of visits, the effect on Fable?

9.The destruction of the equipment, Fable and his revenge and his vandalising the car, Money Man and the group, the anger, buying the gun, the threats? The build-up to the competition, Fable and his role, the two groups, the rivalry, the audience responding? Fable outside, Money Man shooting him? The police, arrests?

10.Daniel and Carmen, the differences, going to her place, the build-up of acrimony, Fable, the possibility of recording, the reactions of the group? Her singing at the club? Suspicions, the competition, Fable’s death and its effect on Danny? The truth about Carmen, the recording possibilities, a future?

11.A showbiz story – in a different context?