A deliberately harsh,pessimistic,unrelenting look at the underclass in 21st Century Britain (namely South Wales),A WAY OF LIFE is a decently made kitchen sink slice of realism,with convincing performances (from a predominately teenage cast,with Brenda Blethyn the only well-known name on view) all round,but it's most severe problem is that it has zero entertainment value,not surprising the dismal and squalid settings that are on show,plus the deeply unpleasant characters.
The story of a teenage mum (well played by Stephanie James) who has had the most difficult of lives (mother committing suicide,abusive father,no job,poor education,etc.) ,and subsequently hurling appalling racist abuse at an Asian neighbour along with other similarly repellent teenage boys, making him the scapegoat for all her problems,is overly glum,humourless and even melodramatic;even the grandmother of her infant child (Blethyn) is subject to similarly aggressive rants. It becomes a considerable strain to watch the film because of the sheer nastiness of the characters and incident depicted.Granted,this may now be a fairly accurate presentation of the desperate condition of many council estates in Britain today,with years of neglect and ignorance by national and local government alike.The film does succeed in this sense,but you get the considerable feeling that it is pointless in trying to dramatise such events for a motion picture,as it is odds-on that very few people would want to pay money not to be entertained,which A WAY OF LIFE also succeeds achieving in spades.With no sympathetic or likable people around,it's no wonder.
Not surprisingly,A WAY OF LIFE was barely seen in a few art-houses before it's departure from cinemas.It is possible to do social realism with a dash of humour,nonchalance and charm,which would ensure a decent number of people watching it;Ken Loach,Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows have managed this over the years with their efforts;had the director here followed this example,the technical competence and decent acting on view may not have been the only aspect worth complementing;as it is,you respect A WAY OF LIFE,but in no way end up liking the finished product,or remembering it with any satisfaction or enthusiasm.
RATING:4 and a half out of 10.
The story of a teenage mum (well played by Stephanie James) who has had the most difficult of lives (mother committing suicide,abusive father,no job,poor education,etc.) ,and subsequently hurling appalling racist abuse at an Asian neighbour along with other similarly repellent teenage boys, making him the scapegoat for all her problems,is overly glum,humourless and even melodramatic;even the grandmother of her infant child (Blethyn) is subject to similarly aggressive rants. It becomes a considerable strain to watch the film because of the sheer nastiness of the characters and incident depicted.Granted,this may now be a fairly accurate presentation of the desperate condition of many council estates in Britain today,with years of neglect and ignorance by national and local government alike.The film does succeed in this sense,but you get the considerable feeling that it is pointless in trying to dramatise such events for a motion picture,as it is odds-on that very few people would want to pay money not to be entertained,which A WAY OF LIFE also succeeds achieving in spades.With no sympathetic or likable people around,it's no wonder.
Not surprisingly,A WAY OF LIFE was barely seen in a few art-houses before it's departure from cinemas.It is possible to do social realism with a dash of humour,nonchalance and charm,which would ensure a decent number of people watching it;Ken Loach,Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows have managed this over the years with their efforts;had the director here followed this example,the technical competence and decent acting on view may not have been the only aspect worth complementing;as it is,you respect A WAY OF LIFE,but in no way end up liking the finished product,or remembering it with any satisfaction or enthusiasm.
RATING:4 and a half out of 10.