London to Brighton

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with a woman and child, Kelly and Joanne, bursting into a London toilet. Joanne is crying and Kelly has a black eye. Eventually Kelly gets them on a train to Brighton, and it is clear they are running from someone.
Joanne is an eleven-year-old runaway who is procured by a reluctant Kelly into having sex with an old violent mobster with a taste for underage girls. Kelly's pimp, Derek, bullies her into complying, but it all goes horribly wrong, and the old mobster is killed, presumably by one of the girls. The older man's son, Stuart, then forces Derek to find the girls. The film follows the duo's flight from London in the wake of what has happened.
Arriving initially in Brighton, Kelly visits her friend Karen and tries to earn enough money through prostituting herself to help Joanne afford the train to Devon, where the child's grandmother lives. The two are eventually tracked down by her pimp and his associate and taken to meet Stuart at a secluded field. Upon arrival, Kelly's pimp and associate are made to dig two graves, presumably for the girls. However, Stuart decides that the girls are the victims in this episode and decides instead to kill Kelly's pimp and associate. The film ends with Kelly and Joanne arriving at Joanne's grandma's house in Devon. Kelly watches from a distance as the girl and the grandmother hug, then turns away.

Tags: violence, cruelty, murder, sadist, flashback

Review:
In a run-down public toilet in London at 3.07 am, the middle-aged prostitute Kelly takes on the 11-year-old runaway Joanne.
The film explores the mother-daughter-like bond that forms between the girls as they are left to fend for themselves in the gritty underworld of South London.Paul Andrew Williams has done something remarkably cool here that he did not realise until his film started receiving praise and wider distribution (it even made its way to the Stockholm International Film Festival, where I saw it).
Although the seedy underground and hierarchies of bad guys, johns and pimps channel Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn, director Williamsm stresses that London to Brighton is "not a gangster movie", but an unflinching look at the two aforementioned characters and how they cope under pressure.The plot is left best unspoiled because it is gradually unfolded through well-positioned flashbacks, arguably the goldmine of the film.
Coming out of the cinema after watching "London to Brighton" I felt my senses reeling and the adrenalin pumping as if I had just stepped off a particularly fiendish theme park ride.There's a grim nastiness running throughout this story, interwoven with a thin thread of maternal compassion.
Without revealing the plot, I can say that had he stayed, the final scene  which in no way strays from the noir  would have rewarded his perseverance.The cast turn in convincing performances and Georgia Groome is excellent as the young runaway..
The fact that the Edinburgh International Film Festival bestowed their New Director award on Paul Andrew Williams is a solid enough indicator of the strengths and unique qualities of London TO BRIGHTON.
London to Brighton deserves to be a huge hit, its bold, its brilliant and its British and it proves once again that we have a thriving film industry packed full of talented people that can still give Hollywood a run for it's money..
For a first time director Paul Andrew Williams pulls off a very confident film, it can be quite hard hitting, very well written with some really good performances.
Instead the characters react only at the extremes: The prostitute with misgivings about sex involving very young children; not the prostitute with misgivings about prostitution.London to Brighton is notable because it places a 13 year old actor in one of the leading roles.
Crude and Dark Gem. In London, the pimp Derek (Johnny Harris) assigns the prostitute Kelly (Lorraine Stanley) that works for him to find a young girl on the streets to escort the powerful mobster Duncan Allen (Alexander Morton).
Kelly finds the twelve year-old runaway Joanne (Georgia Groome) in the train station and Derek proposes one hundred pounds for the service and the girl accepts.
Derek calls his associate Chum (Nathan Constance) and they begin to chase the girls.The excellent "London to Brighton" has a magnificent screenplay that discloses a crude and dark tale of friendship and lost of innocence through flashbacks and a surprising conclusion.
Britain from time to time produces brilliantly realistic urban films, and here in Paul Andrew Wiliams' debut feature we have a truly great genre entry that is awash with realism.Joanne is a 12 year old runaway befriended by young prostitute Kelly, a tragic event leads to them fleeing from London to Brighton on the train, in furious pursuit is a pimp and a gangsters son, and all of their lives are hurtling towards a night of reckoning.This film contains prostitutes, paedophiles, drugs, and violence, yet to even think that this film panders to genre stereotypes would be doing it an injustice.
The screenplay is as lean as a prize featherweight boxer, no saggy tag ons, no sub plots to bog the story down, just a hard as nails story culminating in a wonderful final reel.Lorraine Stanley, Georgia Groome, Johnny Harris, and Sam Pruell, your names, I hope, will get to be known outside of England, because you all excellently realised characters that reminded me of people I have encountered during my life.
Meanwhile back in London, the cold criminal Stuart Allen makes it painfully clear to small time pimp Derek that he wants Kelly and Joanne brought to him.I heard that this film was very grim stuff and as a result I skipped it in the cinemas, although I was "helped" in this decision by how quickly it came and went in the cinema.
Allen is a harder character because he does have to be a "crime lord" in this story of small fish but Spruell does pretty well to hold back and be a menacing force driving the story.London to Brighton is not a cheerful film but it is a gripping thriller set in a convincing world of dirt and grubby people.
A gangster movie with child prostitution as its centrepiece, London to Brighton limps gamely along the road to perdition with a couple of scenes as saving graces.Fairly early on I was paying more attention to the blood on the side of the woman's face, wondering how far she would have to travel before wiping it off, then realising it was the main clue (together with a hefty bruise) to signify whether we were in flashback or not.
The 13yr old actress Georgia Groome (playing 11 year old Joanne) puts some effort into her role, whereas most of the characters could be friends of the director cajoled into 'acting'.I asked the Director after the Festival screening if he wanted to make any sort of social statement with the film, raise social awareness of a terrible issue, but he said it would be nice if it did but he doubted it would last five days.
Containing stellar performances by Lorraine Stanley as Kelly, a street-smart prostitute, and Georgia Groome as Joanne, an 11-year-old runaway, London to Brighton is a low budget but gritty, uncompromising thriller that dramatizes the lives of two young prostitutes, the predators who prey on them, and the criminal underworld of British society.Though it is sometimes hard to watch because of the graphic violence, the film conveys a sense of humanity that shines through the despair.
Winner of the Best New Director Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival with a style reminiscent of the raw immediacy of Shane Meadows and the social awareness of Ken Loach, Paul Williams in London to Brighton has delivered an outstanding first feature..
I suppose those who feel that way would probably not take to London to Brighton, which like films such as Lilya-4-eva take an angle of child prostitution, and spun a different narrative out of it.Here, it's actually out of desperation - in fact almost all the characters here reek of it, in exploiting children on the streets and enticing them with significant sums of money in order to satisfy the whims of some rich clients.
The film takes on a non-linear narrative in having its tale told, which leaves you pretty much engaged in wanting to find out just why two women are on the flight as per its title, leaving behind the city of London in double quick time, where we are introduced at 3:07am to Joanne (Georgia Groome) in thick makeup, being hidden in a stank toilet cubicle by an older lady of the streets, Kelly (Lorraine Stanley), suffering from one badly bruised eye.I suppose a modest production budget made this film look like a typical gritty English crime thriller, with the hand held camera bringing the audience into the thick of the action, either slowly drawing some sympathies from the lead female characters because of the lack of options made available to them, including being on the run, or presenting a sense of clear and present danger up close, especially when pimps Derek (Johnny Harris) and Chum (Nathan Constance) become inevitably close in catching up with the duo for an event they committed, kept closely under wraps.The relationship between Kelly and Joanne remain one of the highlights of the film, two women who have nobody else to turn to, trying to determine what their next course of action might be at every turn.
In tow, she has Joanne (Georgia Groome) a 12 year old runaway who, on the insistence of sleazy pimp Derek (Johnny Harris), she had recruited off the streets to join her sleazy world of prostitution.
Derek doesn't want that to happen...A grim, seedy and cold tale, London to Brighton has upsettingly little in the way of humour and light in the unfolding of it's grimy little tale and so simply has to rely on a well written, depressingly realistic and hard hitting script and some admittedly fantastic acting to get it by.
And get by, thank heavens, it does.Flitting cleverly between events as they are unfolding and events told in flashback that lead up to the main characters's current situation, the film makes clever use of the real time aspect of Kelly and Joanne's frantic journey to get as far away as they can from the mess they are in and Derek's equally frantic mission to find them before his boss sees him meet with a premature end.
Kelly's pimp Derek (Johnny Harris) tries to turn her.This is a gritty little indie from newcomer writer/director Paul Andrew Williams.
Set in the underbelly of London's seedy crime world, this is the story of eleven year old runaway Joanne, who, at the start is coerced into prostitution by her companion, Kelly.
It' three in the morning, a prostitute called Kelly with ripped clothes and inflamed black eye bustles a terrified 12 year old girl into a public toilet somewhere in South London,they are fleeing from someone and decide to get the next train to Brighton.As the film progresses we slowly learn what has happened via a series of flashbacks, and it's a very harrowing subject.I have to admit I was blown away by this 'little' film, yes the subject is deeply unpleasant, but it is handled maturely, there are no 'Lock Stock' style bad guys in this film, just ordinary people, some good, but a lot of very very sadistic violent characters.You really care for the characters which is the most important essence of any film, the acting is superb, especially Lorraine Stanley as Kelly and newcomer, Georgie Groome who is barely a teenager and puts in a stunning performance as the terrified youngster Joanne.This is a quite brilliant debut from a young film-maker, Paul Andrew Williams, he recently quite rightly won a best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and for me it's one of the best British movies I've ever seen, and the best I can remember recently since "Dead Man's Shoes"..
It's about a prostitute called Kelly (Lorraine Stanley) and a young homeless girl named Joanne (Georgia Groomes) who go on the run from pimp Derek (Johnny Harris) for reasons that I won't reveal because it might spoil you enjoyment of this nasty little film.There are no heroes to be found here, no beautiful moments (with the exception of the final frame) just a lot of squalid violence and social decay.There are many things that baffle me about this great country of ours; our obsession with celebrity non-entities, our persistent tea drinking, or constant discourse about the weather, our weak and self serving politicians, and why when a half decent British movie is released, the sycophantic press hype it up so much, and raise expectations so high, that should any one actually bother to watch it, they will leave feeling let down.Unfortunately, 'London to Brighton' is not, as the critics would have you believe, the best thing since sliced bread.
You are sucked into their world, and you are left dirty and downtrodden because of it.As the story develops, a series of flashbacks occur to flesh out the missing pieces of the fractured plot (although I suspect most people will already have guessed the details of events that lead to the girls fleeing London).The movie is anchored by the very strong performances from Lorraine Stanley as the duplicitous Kelly, and Johnny Harris as the low grade Pimp with a psychotic limp and an eye for amorality.Generally the story moves along swiftly, in a predictable but nonetheless gripping and satisfying way.
This is certainly one of the best British films I have seen in recent years.London to Brighton instantly brought back memories of The Long Good Friday.
Johnny Harris' Derek is simply fantastic in his role as the villain, the two female leads are similarly outstanding in their roles: Lorraine Stanley as Kelly shows fantastic depth as a street wise old pro and Georgia Groome is sensational in the role of the runaway, who finds out very quickly that the streets of London are no place for a 12 year old.The film does have some flaws, but they are few and far between and do not prevent the film losing any of its hard edge with an ending you saw coming.Arguably I have never seen a better debut British film more deserving of a place on my DVD shelf next to such British greats as Nil by Mouth and The Long Good Friday than London to Brighton..
Thus, London to Brighton, with its scuzzy and raw feel, comes across as scarier; more frightening in its depiction of a world, the characters within and overall attention to genre.The girls on the run are twelve year old Joanne (Groome) and the much elder Kelly (Stanley), a prostitute.
This minute, but observed ploy, captures the film's tone of getting in deeper; of assuming something to be of a specific nature but then having to recognise a new threat, or new predicament, which furthers feelings and emotions.As an event which spawns the mess everyone finds themselves in, it is revealed that Joanne is a runaway wondering the streets of London, and is quickly picked up by both Derek and Kelly when it is made apparent a local crime boss, Stuart's father, wants a younger girl to feed some depraved sexual cravings.
There's a real sense of terror in London to Brighton; an immediacy which you feel is born out of the two female leads and their place in the film working within a genre which would usually, in terms of Kelly's role as a prostitute, see them relegated to a nothing supporting role or to act as mere eye candy.
I thought that London to Brighton was a great film it starts in London, a pimp called Derek assigns the prostitute Kelly that works for him to find a young girl on the streets to escort the powerful mobster Duncan Allen.
Overall this was a very good film about exploitation and trouble that revolves around the lives of pimps, prostitutes and the homeless when dealing with the sometimes disgusting demands of the paying punters.First of all the positive points, brilliant flashbacks were used but not too many times thankfully which didn't confuse but added clarity to the story behind the girl Joanne's predicament.
London to Brighton tells the tale of young runaway Joanne and prostitute Kelly who's lives collide and consequently take a turn for the worst.
Not only does London to Brighton triumph as a great British film but also as a gripping thriller, and one of which I can safely say new comer Paul Andrew Williams should be proud.London to Brighton tells the tale of young runaway Joanne and prostitute Kelly who's lives collide and consequently take a turn for the worst.
Never can i remember seeing a movie where i have just felt so sick,in shock,angry,upset and seething.Although it is probably the best British film ever made the contents is so shocking and thought provoking it will stay with you for a long long time if you have any conscience and morals.I know it is a film but the very evil that is among the nasty characters makes you want to hunt them down and beat them as their victims that is how realistic this film is portrayed and how well the characters are being shown to us in their roles.the film keeps you gripped from start to finish and you are as much a part of kelly and joanne,s character as they are,you go through their every emotion,fear and joyous moment which has to be said is few and far between.the worst bit is this is,not fiction this is going on in the uk and the world where these young underage girls are being abused.i watched it at approx 12.00 am and i cant sleep now as it has shocked me so much.the 12 year old who plays joanne is absolutely amazing and a strong actress for that age,she will be winning Oscars etc with acting as good and strong as this.as a father this is probably why I'm so affected by the graphic contents of this movie..
It is a decent product in many respects, great performances from Johnny Harris (Derek), Georgia Groome (Joanne) and Lorraine Stanley (Kelly), effectual editing, decent camera-work, lighting and sound.
The only criticism is that I think is that I more could been found out about Kelly's and Derek's pasts.London to Brighton is a grim view, but a worthy film..
If you can stand that, though, and the often dark, gloomy plot of a prostitute and a twelve-year old girl running away to Brighton from something they've done in the capital city (hence the title) you're in for a treat.The cast are excellent, most notably perhaps newcomer Georgia Groome as Joanne the young runaway.
I wanted to know more about the characters we meet in Brighton too - I don't think they were very well developed.Apart from these problems, I found "London To Brighton" very enjoyable, and recommend it to anyone who likes gritty British cinema.7/10.
Basically prostitute Kelly (Lorraine Stanley) with twelve-year-old newcomer Joanne (Georgia Groome) are on the run heading to from London to Brighton after doing something terrible.
Derek needed to find a twelve-year-old girl to perform sexual acts for mobster Duncan Allen (Alexander Morton), Stuart's father, and Kelly found Joanne on the streets.