Sometimes kids can’t be saved, even here, even now. Urban Hymn starts in the 2011 riots with two teen friends, both resident at “Alpha House”, a council unit in south-west London for unmanageable children, gleefully looting electronic goods.
Jamie (Letitia Wright) has been helped to survive her druggy mother’s death through loyal partnership with tough, perpetually angry Leanne (Barbara Laughland). Then a new care worker, Kate (Shirley Henderson) arrives, abandoning her sociology lecturing career, to try helping for real among the wearied, cynical staff.
Kate realises Jamie has true musical talent and, even though Jamie is eventually jailed for her part in the riots, Kate helps her glimpse a new life through developing her music in a community choir.
Jamie, so hostile to everyone at first, eventually realises Kate is seeking salvation herself, her only child having been murdered in a phone mugging. But the bond between Jamie, thrilled to see her life opening out as she turns 18, and Leanne, who sees her chances closing down into crime, drugs and prison, cannot so easily be left behind — and it’s Kate who pays the price.
Latest film reviews
Urban Hymn, written by Nick Moorcroft (St Trinians!) is not without some pretty obvious dialogue and as a film could be considered as an optimistic act of social work in itself (Kids Company is credited at the end, indeed). Moreover, it comes close to endorsing the catastrophic contemporary delusion that the best route out of everyday work and responsibility is the talent contest. Yet it develops real power in the relationship between Jamie and Kate and it directly addresses the intractable problem of the dispossessed. It’s a serious career turn for its director Michael Caton-Jones — and a fine start to Toronto’s new City-to-City strand which has started this year, by showcasing London.
Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
