The Last Tree

A promising start, good acting from most of main players however the film loses its way in the middle part. Has some good moments, I can see why most people are comparing it to Moonlight. Still a good watch but could've better.

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.

Powerful coming of age drama about the early life of a Nigerian immigrant who returns to his birth mother after a childhood with a caring foster mother.

Act1. At the beginning of the film 'Femi' is a young black child to a very caring white foster mother, he seems happy and happy at school, his friends are mostly white as well. He learns that his birth mother is visiting, but we soon discover that her intension is to return to London with him.

We see that his new home is in a squalid tower block and he's struggling to fit into the environment and his new school. His 'new' mother is stern and has very little time for him. Femi resents the move, and the atmosphere between them is continuously tense.

Act2. The child is now a much older teenager, most of the film focuses on this part of his life. He's in his final year and his exams are fast approaching. He fits into the environment, he has a circle of mainly undesirable friends, and has caught the attention of the local king-pin drug dealer, who begins to groom him into his operation. Femi is struggling with what appears to be an unfamiliar black culture.

Act3. Femi visits Nigeria with his mother, his father is a wealthy pastor. He has several servants, his home is a palace. We see that he has a new family. So there is no reconciliation or reunion. Unfortunately Femi is emotionally rejected for a second time.

This has been compared with 'Moonlight', but I can't see why. The only similarity is that the plot is split into 3 acts, but that is where the likeness ends. The Last Tree is a much grittier drama with some very strong emotional performances.

Highly recommended.

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.