Ellen

'Ellen' is about the life of a 14 year old who lives in South East London.This film features Jessica Barden, Yasmin Monet Prince and Jaime Winstone and was directed by Mahalia Belo.

Ellen (played by Jessica Barden) is shown to be a trouble maker who struggles to fit in society. She befriends a girl called Kayla (played by Yasmin Monet Prince) who understands her and they become close. Together, they hang out frequently, going through mischief with Ellen's mum (played by Jaime Winstone) boyfriend and Elllen developing a crush on an older friend called Jason.

This film starts with a philosophical thought "If a tree falls in a forest" which reflects on the events that take place later on within the film. Unfortunately, 'Ellen' lacked the dramatic side of the film and only reflected on Ellen being 'mouthy' and troublesome. On the other hand, it did highlight important topics which are not really spoken about in the Media which might attract the likes of parents, teachers and etc.

Beautifully directed and written, I had the impression the camera was playing with me during the whole film. The time frame is uncertain, as is Ellen's process through grief and towards friendship. Whether it's close-ups or just an original angle, the movie makers have left a fine trail of clues that apparently mean orient your opinion on one of the ambiguous characters. But I'm still unsure whether the average viewer is supposed to take them for their word(or frames) or if they are meant to trick you. The actors are all "marvellous" and very believable; you can really feel Ellen's loneliness and her rage and anger. This movie definitely deserves a debate and I'm hopelessly looking for interviews of the movie makers and cast to find out more about its ending.

The 24 years old Jessica Barden played a 14 year old Ellen in this film. Anyway, she looks so young, fitted to portray the role and in the end she did good. The film was about a school dropout teenage girl whose family is not really supportive to her on anything. So she decides to take full control of her life, but does not know where to begin. It opened with a question asked and ended with the same line. What happens in between is what the film narrates for us as she embark to realise where she really ended.

It is a British television film. Feels like a random narration, like not moving in a particular direction. But you will get how much Ellen was frustrated with her life and the people surrounding her. Because they are with their own agenda, especially her mother's new boyfriend. Except one of her neighbours, who is friendly and helping hand whenever she needed one, but a bit older than her whom she has a crush. So in the remaining part, you will witness some unexpected developments.

Why I did not like it more is for what the film disclosed at the end. I really did not know what this film was about and I surprised how they concluded it. In our society, things like this happening, but I did not like it to end in a wrong way just to highlight the issue. Other than that, this is a good film, I surely suggest it to the others, mainly because nothing was shown in it as whatever the intentions were in the film plot.

6/10

The heightened tragedy Ellen (2016), a one-off drama on channel 4, which I believe was beautifully written and directed by Sarah Quintrell and Mahalia Belo. It is set in south east London and directed at teenagers and adults and highlights concerns in society today.

The main character Ellen, played by Jessica Barden, adheres to the archetype of chavs in a gritty portrayal of life in an urban estate. Clothed in the stereotypical knocked off trainers, clothes and living in a council house. With a discouraging, dysfunctional family and no father figure she is forced to grow up quickly. As a consequence, she is exposed to such explicit things at a young age – drugs and alcohol.

Underage sex and grooming are the two moral panics presented in this drama as the vulnerable teenager is taken advantage of by the one person who she had confided in after the death of a loving family member. To me the camera angles were very ambiguous throughout the short film, however this maybe a deliberate act to show Ellen's uncertainty towards relationships as with best friend Kayla who we establish just wants the best for Ellen. Also, the feeling of despair she carries as she is dissatisfied with her life and people within it. Another critique of the film would be the ending as I believe it did not disclose much, therefore we do not exactly know what happens to Ellen.

I admired how the film opens with a question which foreshadows what occurs at the end of the film. This added dramatic tension to the story by building anticipation about what might happen next. I would recommend it to others as I believe it raises awareness of young people in our society who are disregarded when going through such events.

I'm in the U.S, I watched this made-for-TV film yesterday and am still struck by the films story, portrayal and message. Most of the cast deliver very fine performances (particularly our protagonist) and the directing is quite good. I'm glad that I had the chance to watch, it's touching. Ellen is a 14 year old girl in a broken home and is living with her mom and dying grandmom in a council home (project). Her father is a railway engineer of sorts and is deliberately absent from her life, he only acknowledges his other daughter to his comrades (we never meet him).

Her mother is an immature, selfish alcoholic who's more concerned with throwing parties and her latest fling than she is for the welfare of her daughter. Ellen's companions are liquor, drugs, Kayla, and Jason. Kayla is a schoolmate whom Ellen has never acknowledged until they meet one lonely night and party together. Kayla's mom is deceased, and her dad is a truck driver who spends his days on the road and often leaves her alone. Kayla is a good and kind girl and sort of more self-controlled than Ellen. She has little resistance to acting wild with her new friend.

Jason is a single man in his late 20's or early 30's. He's a neighbor who sometimes parties with her mom. He seems lonely and relates his own adolescence well with that of Ellen's. He shows real concern. He provides her with a free phone, food, support and companionship.

Unease sets in early for the audience. Her moms newest boyfriend behaves decidedly predatory, like a pedo. So Ellen avoids him and her mum. Ellen seems hell-bent on self-destruction, and has no parental support.

What will happen with this young girl?