STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Riz and his family are having a typical, ordinary time in their suburban home, with the extended family behaving in their rowdy way, from his young nephew to their grandfather. Meanwhile, in the background, a far right march is taking place on the telly, which escalates out of control and comes to a shocking outcome on their road, involving all of them.
Riz Ahmed has become something of an under the radar pop culture figure, now commanding enough star power to command fifty five quid for his autograph and picture at this year's London Comic Con, if it still goes ahead at it's rescheduled date in November. But in spite of this, he remains a dedicated social activist, lending his name to this unflinching little short piece, an elaboration on his Where You From track, which he incorporates into the end scene. While it might alienate some, he's as dedicated to his music as his acting, and he delivers it in a way they ends up giving it a bit of extra power and depth.
Despite the seeming mundanity of everything that seems to be happening at the beginning (British Muslims really just living the everyday chaotic home life we all do!), there's clearly something ominous in the air, a dark sense of foreboding that this isn't going to end nicely. It probably speaks to some ingrained prejudice in me that a member of the group might be about to go off on some suicide killing mission (or maybe something in the title The Long 'Goodbye') but instead it's a short, sharp shock of the nightmarish finality far right extremism can lead to, with the innocents who pay the ultimate price, while others (their white neighbours, the police) look the other way.
It plays like an elongated public service announcement, and would work well playing during the adverts when the cinemas reopen. Despite his increasing star status, you have to admire Ahmed for still highlighting important issues, despite his increasing star power. ****
Riz and his family are having a typical, ordinary time in their suburban home, with the extended family behaving in their rowdy way, from his young nephew to their grandfather. Meanwhile, in the background, a far right march is taking place on the telly, which escalates out of control and comes to a shocking outcome on their road, involving all of them.
Riz Ahmed has become something of an under the radar pop culture figure, now commanding enough star power to command fifty five quid for his autograph and picture at this year's London Comic Con, if it still goes ahead at it's rescheduled date in November. But in spite of this, he remains a dedicated social activist, lending his name to this unflinching little short piece, an elaboration on his Where You From track, which he incorporates into the end scene. While it might alienate some, he's as dedicated to his music as his acting, and he delivers it in a way they ends up giving it a bit of extra power and depth.
Despite the seeming mundanity of everything that seems to be happening at the beginning (British Muslims really just living the everyday chaotic home life we all do!), there's clearly something ominous in the air, a dark sense of foreboding that this isn't going to end nicely. It probably speaks to some ingrained prejudice in me that a member of the group might be about to go off on some suicide killing mission (or maybe something in the title The Long 'Goodbye') but instead it's a short, sharp shock of the nightmarish finality far right extremism can lead to, with the innocents who pay the ultimate price, while others (their white neighbours, the police) look the other way.
It plays like an elongated public service announcement, and would work well playing during the adverts when the cinemas reopen. Despite his increasing star status, you have to admire Ahmed for still highlighting important issues, despite his increasing star power. ****