The Last Tree

'The Last Tree (2019)' is certainly coloured in shades of 'Moonlight (2017)', taking inspiration from that award-winning flick in its story, structure, aesthetic and, even, final moments. It isn't some kind of 'rip-off', though; the similarity between the two texts is, essentially, circumstantial. This piece has its own distinct identity, telling a tale that's often left untold in a relatively bold and stylistic way. Sometimes, the very 'indie' nature of the production becomes rather evident. There are some movements in which the generally good performances aren't quite as refined as usual and a few directional choices don't pay off as well as you'd expect. Still, the film is typically confident and compelling. The narrative does feel kind of 'basic', I suppose, but it also touches on some themes that are rarely touched upon at all - such as the effect, and even existence, of shadeism, for example. Occasionally, it does accidentally conflate race with class and perceived quality of life, but I suspect that writer-director Amoo is just trying to reflect the world as he sees it and he's not wrong for doing so. The protagonist's journey is believable and engaging, providing several genuinely enjoyable scenes. There are times when it evokes the kind of nostalgia that seldom fails to tug at one's heart. Of course, it has its share of nastier sequences, too. Everything is quite subtle, relying on a gritty, realist tone that makes even the mundane seem impactful. Towards the end, the movie takes a slight detour and the pacing really slows. The content of this finale is good but it just feels 'tacked on', in a way, and takes you out of the flick's flow. It's not a massive deal, though. The experience is entertaining at large and succeeds in what it's trying to do. It's not brilliant, as it never reaches the levels of impact needed to glue you to your seat, but it's good enough. It's a decent effort. 6/10

I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either dragged especially towards the last quarter of the film but did have its moments. Wouldn't go out of your way to see it but passes the time.

Uplifting movie proving that growing up, whatever culture, especially amid violence and drugs, is never easy. Too many youngsters get lost, even when given love and attention. You can only guess and hope that a few make it, and find their purpose.

Not the worst film of 2019 by any means, but not really anything too special either. There are even some shadows of "Moonlight" (2017) in this, but overall it is a fairly pedestrian tale of a dislocated lad's adjustment - not very straightforwardly - from his peaceful, fostered, life in rural Lincolnshire to the new, busy, and more aggressive urban surroundings of a London where he struggles to integrate readily. He must adapt to the pressures and temptations that brings, some of which compromise his decent and responsible upbringing. Visually, it is quite impressive and Sam Adewunmi certainly shows promise as "Femi", but otherwise it is a little too predictable and maybe could have done with some more potency in a dialogue that does rather follow the trammels.

People have compared this to Moonlight but I thought Moonlight was a lesser version of Boyhood, The Last Tree by comparison stands alone as a more thoughtful musing on the nature of identity, the struggle with being black in Britain (in all it's shades), and the nature of manhood, masculinity, and authority. Femi's struggle to find an identity that fits him is something that truly resonated with me and his threat to spiral into a life of violence is something all too real. I also really appreciated his visit to his homeland at the end, and a sense of connecting with something wholly alien and yet familiar at the same time. The writing was a tad spotty but the ability to engage in both timeless and timely themes, dealing with a segment of British society undervalued and underrepresented made this a truly moving picture.