Strumpet

Story of a good-for-nothing poet and a sidekick singer who puts his words to music. Director Danny Boyle has lost none of his predilection for raking in the gutter of humanity for characters but he has lost, in this film, the edge for creating inspiring and funny films. Strumpet is painful to watch and barely justified by the fact that it was made for TV.

Being familiar with Danny Boyle's filmography, I was surprised to see him such a tame subject matter. A street poet who takes in a stray girl. However, I soon learned there was nothing tame about this film which I saw last night at the Toronto International Film Festival. I cannot get the music out of my head, not because it was particularly good, but because like the film it was daring, original, energetic and truthful.

Just seen "Stumpet" on TV and thought that it was certainly one of the more interesting films I have seen of late. I had to write this as I have read the previous review and it didn't seem to do it justice. Sure, Strumpet is rough round the edges, it's not as sanitized or as colourful as Shallow Grave or Trainspotting, but in my view that adds to its character.

From the "chicken town" poem at the beginning to hypocrisy of "Top of the pops" at the end, the film throws convention away and does something different and inspiring.

By no means the best film in the world, but definitely worth a watch. You will like it or you will hate it.

A personal highlight of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2001, "Strumpet" is a dazzling showcase of DV filmmaking that never undermines the startling narrative, perfectly crafted by Jim Cartwright and realised by Danny Boyle. Christopher Eccleston is amazing! Hurting. Searching. Honest. Carrying the weight of life in "Chicken Town". Not since Four Weddings has the 'F' word been used to such good effect - here it hammers it's way into your psyche, painting a bleak canvas onto which the story unfolds. Anyways, enough already! Uplifting. Revelatory, and after months of rhetoric of how DV will change the world, I've finally seen the future... and it all hangs on a great story and true passion in front of and behind the camera.

This film shouldn't be defined by it's creation on DV. DV or not DV who cares? Good films come from the heart, and communicate some level of truth and experience and this film has plenty all round. Truly essential.

Don't expect a new 'Shallow Grave' or 'Trainspotting'; this is a film rather for the people who appreciated 'Trainspotting' for it's refined criticism against drugs and the so-called generation X, for people who noticed how tragic that story really was, then for people who loved it for it's drug- and action scenes. Christopher Eccleston is just terrific in this picture which is very vivid, quite original and has a certain -sometimes sarcastic- sence of humor. See for yourself what it is about, and be nicely surprised!