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source: Rocks

'Rocks (2019)' is a social-realist film that follows a teenage girl who has to take care of her younger brother when their mother suddenly leaves. It's a sort of kitchen-sink drama that feels so grounded - partly due to its subdued, no-frills performances and decidedly 'unscripted' feel - that it could almost pass as a bonafide documentary. It shines a light on an underrepresented segment of an often represented city, stripping London of the glamour (and even exaggerated grime) that it's often given in bigger productions. It's an important perspective to see. The film itself is rather slow going to begin with, though it's never boring or anything less than well-achieved. After a while, the piece settles into a faster pace and starts to hit you with some proper emotional punches. It's here that it really starts to shine, building towards an affecting yet appropriately subdued finale. It's well-made stuff, with really great first-time performances and an effective balance between sorrow and joy. It isn't all that exciting, per se, but it's engaging and important. It's a bit slow at times, yet it works well as a whole. 6/10

A raw look at life below the surface of inner city London. Performances so good from the young teenage cast that it almost feels as if they are real and you are watching a documentary. Passionate, heartfelt sadness and moments joy all mixed together for what should be compulsive viewing. Great film.

Movie night with Iris. Despite the terrible circumstances upbeat tale of a steady and immutable young woman. This is the most authentic film about British teens in years. The events of Rocks are tragic, but the film (like its heroine) refuses to get dragged down by despair. Rocks is a heartfelt testament to the resilience of our young sisterhood.

I may be a little biased here because this movie hits very close to home, the socioeconomic status of Rocks, the council flats and ghettoised neighbourhoods, the slang it's very much what living in East London is like. So kudos to the director for giving a real insight into what life is like for Rocks and people like her. As she tries to avoid social services, pushes away her true friends and steals from Roshe you find yourself pained by her choices and how they affect her little brother Emmanuel but you also have to remind yourself she's just a child. And yet we see her take on the responsibilities of looking after her brother and making sure they stay together no matter how hard it is.

A beautiful, sad but ultimately uplifting story, children have resilience and strength even in the darkest times. All of the young actors were so good but especially the lead characters. A must watch.

This film annoyed me! It has a serious subject that is dealt with by undergraduate filmmakers that had the potential to be something special about life in London today for so many people. This is just a bunch of episodes joined together and it only becomes 'real' after 70 minutes. This film is almost certainly a reality, but if you want a moving film about reality, watch 'Precious' as it a much superior film. Most people will probably dislike this review as it isn't 'woke' enough, but as a film, it isn't involving. I should have cared for these characters, but the film just made me watch these characters. I usually cry at films like this, but 'Rocks' left me dry-eyed. I wish it didn't and it left me thinking it would have been much more powerful if it was a documentary about the people/society/diaspora it is based on.