★★★★
Two teenage boys in Scotland in 1994, best friends with no control over their lives, risk everything to attend an illegal rave, hoping for the best night of their boring lives.
Classification: 18
Director Brian Welsh paints an intimate portrait of friendship and rebellion in this unique little film depicting a little slice of life in Scotland. Cristian Ortega and Lorn Macdonald star as Johnno and Spanner, two adolescents whose only escape from their grim realities are the pounding beats of electronic dance music. Raves and gatherings with music containing repetitive beats are soon to be outlawed but that doesn’t stop the rebellious underground from putting on a secret rave on the last night Johnno and Spanner have together.
Beats establishes an authentic atmosphere which creates a genuine interest in the culture of the film. Characters are placed on either the side of the establishment or the side of anarchy with Johnno and Spanner caught in the middle. These character’s strained relationships with their families have them yearning to break free from the norm with an escape into the rave becoming the only solace. Despite being a period piece, the themes of Beats feel universal as it explores love between friends, family and how that love can become complicated and how that love can transcend.
Music is crucial to Beats as it becomes the rallying cry for those wishing to express themselves freely. The characters of the film are all oppressed one way or the other either by societal norms, sexism, classism, these pillars that are used to prop up our notions of society. Soon the rave clearly becomes more than just a party in a warehouse but a symbol for expression where the characters embrace what the fully are, for better or worse. This expression transcends to the filmmaking itself with the rave sequences showing real freedom and allowing the editor Robin Hill to really experiment with the storytelling. Very rarely can I say that a film goes “full Koyaanisqatsi” in its approach but Beats does so with such narrative confidence its a shame when the film hurls you back to reality.
The soul of the film lies with its two leads, despite an immersive supporting cast both Ortega and MacDonald have vibrant chemistry with each that makes the comedy and drama all the more gripping. Welsh creates a real intimacy between them and a sense of helplessness against their futures, that no matter what they will be torn apart and society will eat them up into their set roles. This desperation for freedom leads these two characters to take risks that put them both in danger but also gives them opportunities to grow and thrive in ways they haven’t before. Beats intimacy is furthered by the cinematography, the entire film being in black and white, seeming to represent how divided the communities are becoming, how the contrasts within society are laid bare for all to see. It shows how the autonomy of the music can become so liberating, under the flashing lights and the pounding beats, everyone is the same.
Thrilling it is when a filmmaker will go above and beyond to give as much personality and heart to the simplest of ideas that allows the audience to ponder and debate its artistic meanings. Beats doesn’t waste a moment with its storytelling and shows a journey so many can relate to. Our desire to feel free is something that will never go away, those nights we never wanted to end, the friendships we wished went on forever. We all remember the beats that played in those moments we fell in love.
Director: #BrianWelsh
Release Date: May 17th 2019
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
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