Giddy Stratospheres

I loved this film. The 00's music scene was a great time for DIY bands and club nights. This film captures that familiar sense of adventure and despair, all often rolled into one nights escapades. The music too is one step removed from the mainstream idea of who was really making waves. Post-punk ideals were resurrected, people"formed a band" just because they could. However, drugs also played a part too, and sometimes, they ruined futures. Really though, the film is about friendship, that one person who's always there for you, sometimes the one you take for granted. Some of the supporting cast are there for light relief, whilst others paint a grim picture of what drugs can do to your sense of reality. Don't read the bad reviews on here, left by internet plankton who never got it it together enough to even write a song, let alone make a film. Now they just lurk on social media like they did in chatrooms in the 00s. Sad. It's a portrait, a snapshot in time, about an era still relatively unexplored by film makers because its too recent. Also, the cinematography is crazy good.

As an indie club promoter during the noughties I was eagerly awaiting this film. I felt it captured the 'hedonisitic fragility' that I saw week in week out back then. The ongoing volatile party that could veer off into drama at any time. The change of tone was well handled and powerful.

It would be amiss of me not to mention the soundtrack as I hadn't heard songs like Decent Days & Nights or Emily Kane for years. Some great music on there and that alone will drag you in.

For anyone who was around in those heady 00's days, Giddy Stratospheres is a poignant reminder of the eternal 'striving for something better' that many must have felt at the time.

For a first time writer / actor, who also directed and produced this semi-autobiographical story (during lock down!!), Laura has made a solid effort at capturing the 00's music scene despite working with a shoe string budget.

There were many funny moments throughout though the humour is balanced precariously against the sadder sub-text of the story.

For me, certain scenes went on too long and I wondered whether this was done in order to ensure its running time though maybe Laura was just trying to immerse us in fleeting moments and draw us further into that halcyon world.

There are a few strong performances such as Jamal Franklin who's supporting lead gave many nice moments as he veered between overgrown teenager and sensible shoulder for Laura's character to lean on.

A twist in the tale really took me by surprise and was really touching though of course I wont write any plot spoilers here!

Giddy Stratospheres left me wishing the 00's had never ended and is a lovely debut with a lot of heart though it will be interesting to see what Laura does next. I'm sure it will be great.

Loved it, took me back to a happier time with great music and a great scene.

Sequel?

I'm a massive long blondes, the cribs, future heads, and other 00s indie music fan so I was very excited to hear about this film. The sound track was great and very on point for that era but I didn't think the film itself was great. The partying I can certainly identify with and have been to many indie nights in London and I knew many people who were similar to the ones in the the film from parties and social circles I've mixed with. The drugs scene is fairly accurate but I didn't particularly like the ending. Watch it for yourself and see if you agreem.