That this short won awards beggars belief. It had possibilities but is hardly groundbreaking quality either in the way it has been shot or the script or the acting. Every critic seems to fall over themselves to laud Shane Meadows because his films represent a section of society that is not often shown. I admit this is the only piece I have seen by Meadows but it does not encourage me to seek out more of his work. His own performance in this as an actor is passable but is the best of a bad bunch. It is sad that stuff like this becomes a benchmark for other young filmmakers. It thinks its another Trainspotting but it is far from that. Working class movies do not have to be like this - there is more to the working class than crime and violence. It is patronising and insulting to portray English life this way. Avoid.
