STELLA DOES TRICKS |
| CREDITS: Director: Coky Gledroyk Cast: Kelly McDonald & James Bolam GB 1997
(18) INTRODUCTION: Coky Gledroyk's disturbing directorial debut is receiving some well-timed re-screenings around the country, with paedophilia and child prostitution rarely out of the news and the forth coming release of "Lolita". However, this is about as far from Nabokov's lyrical masterpiece as you can get. It is crass and brutal, but that's probably the way it is. SYNOPSIS: Teenaged prostitute Stella (McDonald) attempts to escape from her sleazy existence and her even sleazier pimp (Bolam), to lead a normal life, along with her junkie boyfriend. REVIEW: This film prides itself on its realism, a rare commodity in the modern film, ending with a thank you from the production crew to the girls that they encountered on the streets of Glasgow, Manchester & London. It is an unflinching portrayal of the nastier side of big city life, and those to whom capitalism, democracy and urbanisation has brought few rewards. McDonald follows up her stunning debut (in "Trainspotting") with an even more stunning performance, eliciting feelings of sympathy and camaraderie from the audience. Bolam puts in an out of character appearance as a most unlikely lad, call me crazy but this is not how I want to see him, a genius piece of casting that such a well loved actor as Bolam should be cast in this sleazy role just heightens the feelings of revulsion and nausea, that his character engenders. The script is a masterpiece, the narrative flows seamlessly between, Stella's memories of a happy childhood turned sour, her fantasies of a better future, and her current brutalising existence, towards a traditionally down-beat ending. The emerging Scottish film industry once again demonstrates the vast gulf between it and Hollywood. Mutt's Rating: **** |