Soulboy

This thoroughly entertaining British film from director Shimmy Marcus is a coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of the Northern Soul boom in the 1970s. Soulboy is a likeable film, whose unspectacular plot is carried through by a terrific soundtrack, some great performances and fantastic depiction of the excitement surrounding the 70s soul scene.

Stoke-on-Trent, 1974. Joe McCain (Martin Compston) is a young man clearly yearning for more than his mundane routine. Working away the week as an assistant delivery driver to the amusing Brendan (Pat Shortt) and whiling away his weekends with foolhardy best friend Russ (Alfie Allen) at “The Onion” leave Joe clearly unsatisfied. His interrupted attempts at masturbation and being ridiculed as a “T**T” on “the Onion” dance floor are humorous moments that indicate this frustration.

Joe soon meets and falls for Jane (Nichola Burley), a slick soul diva who brings him into the world of the Northern Soul scene. Set around real life Wigan Casino Club (“the best disco in the world”) Joe is catapulted into an exciting new world, into which he also drags the reluctant Russ. After recruiting mild mannered Mandy (Felicity Jones) to help him become a true Soulboy, Joe looks like he might be slowly prying the beautiful Jane away from her terrifying and formidable boyfriend Alan (Craig Parkinson). However, after a disastrous series of events at the club, Joe is soon made to reconsider what and who are really important to him.

The two young, talented British leads are brilliant in their roles, though you do get the feeling they are limited by an unimaginative script. Martin Compston, who has shown huge potential ever since he burst onto the British film scene in Sweet Sixteen, works well in his role as the plucky underachiever, bringing humour and compassion to a role that could easily be forgettable. Similarly Felicity Jones brings the same sweet, likeable nature to Mandy as she did to her character in Cemetery Junction. The interaction between these two starlets is a highlight of the movie, but does add to the predictable nature of the films outcome.

Overall, Soulboy is an enjoyable film that depicts brilliantly a time and movement which has not been touched upon much in film to this date, and generally the performances are strong from a predominately British cast. However, you cannot help but feel that the plot is a little underdeveloped leaving the emotional climaxes a bit of underwhelming. Having said that, the over-sentimentality and predictable boy-meets-girl formula does not ruin what is an engaging movie with a great sense of history and a phenomenal soundtrack.

Head down to City Screen on Monday 25th October at 8.45pm to catch the second screening of Soulboy.

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