Director: Menhaj Huda

Staring: Noel Clarke, Aml Ameen, Red Madrell, Jamie Winstone

UK, 2006, 1 hour 29 minutes

Two years ago, Kidulthood kicked up a proper tabloid tempest for its bleak, unflinching depiction of teen life in the big smoke: hoodies up, knickers down, sex, rage, guns and drugs…But it always aimed at realism, not sensation, raw and rough-edged, it has a certain authenticity, as it draws on writer Noel Clarke’s growing pains on a West London estate.  But his overloaded screenplay shoehorns in every potential teenage pitfall - bullying, suicide, drugs, murder, unwanted pregnancy, casual sex, knives, guns, Yardies and fights.  It tears along at a good pace (aided by music from The Streets, Shystie, Dizzee Rascal), never bores and has a certain novelty value, the real language and habits of our capital’s streets hardly ever make it to the big screen.