343. Yardie; movie review

YARDIE
Cert 15
102 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, violence, drug misuse

Why doesn't Yardie have subtitles?
It adds to its authenticity that its characters speak in Jamaican patois (even a white Englishman, played by Stephen Graham) but it is often difficult to understand what they are saying.
The frustration was heightened by the laughter of some of those in the Nottingham Cineworld in reaction to some of the dialogue. They clearly understood what Mrs W and I did not.
I am surprised that director Idris Elba and his colleagues hadn't thought about subtitles or perhaps they are only aiming his film at an African-Caribbean audience.
It's a pity because we had enjoyed the grittiness of Yardie but I suspect we missed out completely on its humour.
Set in the 70s and early 80s, it stars Aml Ameen as Dennis Campbell, who is brought up in the countryside outside of Kingston at while Jamaica's capital city is riven by gang warfare.

Despite, the attempts of his kin to steer him on to the right track, he is lured by a crime lord (Sheldon Shepherd) and is eventually sent to London to do his bidding.
While in England, he is torn between avenging old scores and being told to settle down by the mother  Shantol Jackson) of his child.
It is a tale of the temptation with violence forever looming larger than the 'path of righteousness'.
Actually, it's quite sad because, while this is fiction, it certainly feels authentic in explaining why too many black children have grown up without fathers who are absent through being self-consumed or dead.
I don't know whether it is Elba's intention that it should reflect so badly on black men and mirror the helplessness of their wives and mothers but that is exactly what Yardie does.
Interestingly, if it had been made by a white director I suspect there would have been heavy criticism because of its negative connotations.
However, Elba is such a national treasure that he has even been tipped as the next James Bond.
He may be a great actor but, while directorial debut is edgy and its soundtrack is very catchy, both Mrs W and I were struggling to understand what its message was.
Perhaps it was lost in translation.

Reasons to watch: An interesting take on West Indian culture.
Reasons to avoid: If you find Patois hard to follow

Laughs: A couple from us - more from others in the audience
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10

Director quote - Idris Elba: " I’ve had the privilege to watch a lot of directors work in my career as an actor but then here I am in the front seat! I really loved it, I’ve had an an amazing experience."

The big question - Why are the lives of African Caribbean men still regarded so cheaply?

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