Life and Lyrics

17:00
31 Oktober 2007
Europe on Screen 2007

Free ticket available 30 min before opening


Goethe Haus - Capacity: 301 seats
Jl. Sam Ratulangi 9 – 15, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat - T 2355 0208

Free as a Bird
Dessy Darmayanti, 2006, 8 min
Indonesia, Documentary

Life and Lyrics
Richard Laxton, 2005, 75 min.
UK, Musical Drama
Less 8 Mile, more 8 Mile End, this is an enjoyable, if predictable drama, with a superb performance by Walters.

Ashley Walters (from Bullet Boy) stars as DJ Danny Lewis, the leader of The Motion Crew, a group of South London rappers who are looking forward to besting their hated rivals the Hard Cash Crew in an upcoming rap battle (or rap off) in the prestigious Mic Masters competition. However, Danny complicates matters by falling for Carmen (Louise Rose), a singer who turns out to be related to the Hard Cash Crew.

Walters is superb, proving once again that he's one of Britain's most exciting young actors. There's also strong support from Chris Steward as Fable, Danny's best friend, who has a surprisingly moving subplot in which he tracks down his (white) mother, who gave him up for adoption.

Unsurprisingly, the music is excellent and the scenes of Danny and his crew jamming are exhilarating. Similarly, as with 8 Mile (the film's most obvious inspiration), the rap battle scenes are terrific and include quality slap-downs such as Let that go, you're in breach of your ASBO. [The ViewLondon Review]


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Jl Sam Ratulangi 9-15, Jakarta 10350
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E-mail: prakt1@jakarta.goethe.org
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