As a Londoner i realised that a movie like this had never been made. We don't have any movies or historical reference material which provides insight into the journey Jamaican expats made and what it was like to settle iinto the Uk during the 70s and 80s. Its scandalous that this movie hasn't been made before.
Although the book makes us despise the lead character D, in the movie he came across as captivating. Human, flawed and often funny. In fact there is this trail of humour which filters through the dialogue which is also my experience of being with my Jamaican friends. Sometimes humour in unlikely places in the movie especially with the audience's attitude to Rico. A nasty yet colorful character played by a white man who sounds Jamaican and it turns out Steven Graham does actually have Jamaican heritage and grew up in a Caribbean neighbourhood in Manchester as a child. He is excellent in this movie.
The lead actress who plays D's wife has never been in a movie before and her performance electrified the screen. Part of the generation of Jamaicans who came over to work in the NHS, she represents all that is good and solid in the community.
I found it fascinating and felt it was important for all Londoners and Jamaicans to see this movie. A slice of our history
