Young Soul Rebels
dir. Isaac Julien · 1991
Plot
Youth culture meets identity politics in this part-thriller, part-gay love story set in London in 1977, days before the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations. The hedonistic world of pirate DJs Chris and Caz is shattered when a close friend is killed while cruising in the local park. The black community suspect the National Front, but the police pull Chris in as a suspect. This beautifully crafted period piece, a bold and stylish debut feature from Isaac Julien, paints a convincing picture of late-'70s London. The city is a carefully mapped out social landscape, open to all but offering safety to none, as we are taken to a Dalston barber, east London council estates festooned with Union Jacks, West End offices, soul clubs and city parks.
Why watch
A close-knit group of friends navigates the vibrant yet perilous streets of 1970s London, where the pulse of soul music intertwines with the harsh realities of identity and political strife. As Chris and Caz grapple with the murder of a friend, the film immerses viewers in a world where joy and danger coexist, reflecting the complexities of youth culture and the search for belonging.