Yukster_uk

This film consisted almost entirely of talking heads, but held the attention of the audience from start to end at a screening organised by the Socialist Workers Party. It was introduced by a Vietnam veteran slating the UK Labour party for applauding Tony Blair "the 2nd most hated man in the world" on his farewell speech.

The film was mainly shot at a public hearing, organised by Veterans against the war (featuring John Kerry), where former soldiers talked about truly disgusting atrocities against men, women and children that they saw or themselves committed. They are described in a matter-of-fact fashion, because they were an everyday occurrence. They also talk about how they were trained, the dehumanising mindset they were trained in and the realisations they came to on returning to the US. Cut into this were interviews with audience members including a dissenting black veteran talking with members of VVAW about why he thinks there are not many Afro-Americans in their movement.

Too often when atrocities occur, it is the soldiers that are scapegoated, when it is governments that send them out brainwashed. This film gives them a chance to put their side of the story, causing conflicting emotions- should you feel disgusted with them as murderers or pity them as young conscripts deceived into fighting, brutally trained to act like animals. Though it is grim, it is also heartening that they had the courage to stand up against their government and attempt to stop the genocidal war. The sort of film GW Bush and Blair should have watched years ago.

This film was funny, fresh and (mainly) well-acted. They put up characters on the screen that most people would be able to recognise from their teenage years- all trying to be the man, prove themselves etc but internally confused. ENough times I laughed out loud- because the lines were true. There is a white character called Mooney who is always scared and trying to stop his mates doing stuff, always saying "I'm not scared". There's a scene where this kid tries to buy alcohol from a corner shop though he is obviously underage and calls the Indian shopkeeper "blud". Maybe some of it was far fetched, but most of the voters can't have seen it. Peopl say it is trying to be City of God but that is not really true. City of God is about life is a tough barrio, Kidulthood is set in Notting Hill, where very rich characters live alongside less well off people and both are seen on screen. Definitely worth going to see.