Movie Review: Urban Hymn

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this screener, free of charge,from Level 33 Entertainment, via Tether, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it,  all opinions are my own.



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This new British movie released theatrically on the 12th, and is now also available fordigital viewing!



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Urban Hymn is a British film, telling a redemptive coming of age story about a wayward teen, Jamie (Letitia Wright), who is encouraged by an inspiring and unconventional social worker Kate (Shirley Henderson), to use singing as an escape from her troubled background.  Jamie’s loyalties soon become torn between Kate and her possessive and volatile best friend, Leanne (Isabella Laughland).



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The movie is directed by Michael Caton-Jones, known for DOC HOLLYWOOD, ROB ROY, THE JACKAL, CITY BY THE SEA, MEMPHIS BELLE, TV Mini-Series Ken Follett’s “World Without End.” And it has received numerous awards already, including:

WINNER Audience Award - International Young Audience Film Festival
WINNER Organiser’s Prize - International Young Audience Film Festival
WINNER Golden Gryphon Generator +18 - Giffoni Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Toronto International Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Busan International Film Festival

Check out the Trailer:



Review:

First- warning, this is a very much rated R movie- there is strong language, violence and sexual content. But having said that, it is a movie to be watched by parents and high schoolers, for its honesty about teens, especially those of poorer backgrounds, or 'in the system'.  It IS a British film, but the accents are not much to get around.

It has been described as 'a beautiful, yet heartbreaking film' and I can't think of a better way to describe it. It starts slow, but as you get to know Janie and Kate, you can see where Kate will be able to help Janie, if only she will let her. Janie is still a child in many ways-holding on tho the memory of her mother and her mother's love of music, and trying to be an adult, as she is ready to age out of the system. So Kate comes into her life at a very critical junction, where she has to make a choice of what she wants to be and do with her life. It is this decision making that makes the movie worthwhile for teens to watch with their parents. As the relationship between Janie and Kate continues you can see the sparks starting with Leanne, and you know there will be drama there, as she wants one path, and Janie wants another. Peer pressure 101, only at an extreme level, is fully shown, and could be an eye opener for many teens. 

The movie is about hope and there is much to root for in this movie as Janie makes decisions for her life. But with life, there can always be bad, and those choices ultimately lead to heartbreak. The movie is decidely a drama in the old school way, and when the movie is over, it stays with you and hopefully for teesn watching it, helps them to understand choices have consequences, for good and bad. It is a wonderful movie, and I'm sure it will gain many more awards before coming to our local theatres!




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