Kidult Hood Questions

INTRODUCTION

Kidulthood tells the story of a turbulent 48 hours in the life of a group of fifteen-year-olds living in West London. Filmmaker Menhaj Huda and his youthful cast set out to show what life was really like for young people growing up today and the problems and issues they face. The film was shot in the UK in just four and a half weeks on a minimal budget but incorporates all the action and suspense of a big Hollywood production.

■ Look at the poster image. How does this confirm or contradict your expectations of Kidultood?

The poster confirms my expectations of this film because of such elements as the constume, they chose sterotype outfits (chevy), the darkness of the image shows that its tragic, and the fact that sam is holding a bat confirms the violence.  

■ Why do you think the title ‘Kidulthood’ was chosen? Think about all the different parts of the word - what associations does it have and what impression does it give of what you are about to see?

I think Kidulthood is a very clever way of pointing out the fact that this movie is exposing such thing as the immaturity level of this kids trying to play an adults game. 

■ The action is set in a school playground. How does this contradict traditional associations of the playground and what effect does this have?

The fact that it is set in a school playground condradicts a playground because a playground is associated with being safe and a fun place for children to play, not a horrific and intimidating place the film makes it look like, this also touches on to the title 'Kid-ulthood'.

■ How is tension and/or aggression conveyed through the body language and facial expression of each group of characters?

The characters facial expressions are very obvious to how they all feel, they constantly look either worried or angry in most of the film, which is relevant to how they all feel inside.

■ Is it easy to identify the ‘outsiders’? If so, how?

It is very easy to identify the outsiders by their facial expressions (unhappy and worried) they also seem to be singled out on thier own whilst others in a gang.

■ How does the filmmaker build tension into the story of Sam and Claire at this point?

He builds tension by making it seem that both characters want nothing to do with eachother though they are a couple, she seems to be very affraid of him and he seems to not care about her at all.

■ What words would you use to describe the images of Trife we see in the opening sequence of the film? How do they support what is going on around him? How do they contrast with them? What do you assume he is doing?

In the movie Trife seems to be the one who shows the most Compassion, of all the corruption that seems to be happening around him he seems to stare at it with dissapointment unlike the others who seem to be use to it.

■ How does the soundtrack add to the feeling of tension?

the soundtack works very well with building tension, becuase in most scenes it matches the subject matter and the songs are based on what is happening e.g. (lights are blinding my eyes plays when the trife is confused and worried and its dark and gloomy with flashing lights all around, and stay positive plays when a girl is about to commit suicide).

■ What are the main stories in the film? Are these representative of the majority of young people?

In the movie the producers have chosen to highlight stories that are associated with the younger generation in the media, such as teen pregnancy, gang violence and drug usage.

■ What kinds of activities do we see the ‘kids’ doing throughout the day?

Throughout the whole movie the teenagers seem to be involved with drugs, sex and violence, these are stereotype activities that teenagers at that age group are known to do.

■ How do you feel about the language used in the film? Is it an accurate representation of how young people speak?


I think that the language used in the film is accurate to how the young people of that certain area do talk, though it is not how all of them talk, the movie has only based this language on the focused gang members.

■ How do we feel about the incident where Trife is accused of stealing the Burberry cap? How does the filmmaker influence our thoughts by the way in which it is presented?

I think that that scene is the most controversial scene of the whole movie because, the director makes the audience feel angry at the discrimination taking place as he makes such elements as racial profiling evident, but you also think to yourself, if you were in the characters situation, would you trust the boys? Have you been given a reason to?

■ How are the adults in the film represented? Who is seen in a) a positive light

b) a negative light? How is this shown as influencing or impacting on the actions of the teenagers?

In the movie the adults’ control over the teenagers seems to be based on the popular myth that black parents are stricter, the girl at the beginning who committed suicide seemed to be distant from her and not in touch with the way she feels, as Trife’s mother seems to be more assertive and demands more respect, which reflects on why Trife is seems to be a more respectful guy as the movie continues.

■ How do you feel about the way in which young people are represented by the media in a) film b) print media?

I think it is very unfair how young people are represented in these movies and print media, because though all these bad situation and activities shown in the movie do take place, I feel that it is a minority of the young generation but it is exposed as if it’s a majority of teenagers.

■ What do you think the reaction of someone aged 50+ might be to the film? What would you say to them?


I think that a person who is aged 50+ would mistakenly get the impression all young teenagers behave the way that teenagers are betrayed in the film.

■ Do you think the film raises issues of gender or race?

I definitely think that gender and racial issues are evident in this movie e.g. (the way the boys refer to girl in such disrespectful manners, and how in the play most of the black people are the trouble makers in gangs).  

■ In what ways do you think the film could help empower young people?

I think that this film could empower young people in two different ways, it could either scare them away from that particular way of life, or could encourage it as this movie seems to glamorise it. 

Kidultood has been classified as a ‘docu- drama’. If you had to choose one that represented the story line correctly, documentary or drama, which would you chose and why?

I think i would choose to classify this as a drama because though it is based on true events and real life situations I think it’s way too exaggerated and glamourized to be a documentary. 

If you were asked to produce a ‘docu-soap’ what would it be based on?

I would base my docu-soap on the contrast between higher and lower class society.