White Girl (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Hettie Macdonald

Writer:

Abi Morgan (writer)

Release Date:

10 March 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Debbie, a working class single mother from Leeds, moves her family to Bradford, where they find themselves in an ethnic minority. Daughter Leah must adapt to being the only white girl at school. |

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Melanie Hill	...	Sonya
Tariq Jordan	...	Rehan
Holly Kenny	...	Leah
Anna Maxwell Martin	...	Debbie
Daniel Mays	...	Stevie
Aaron Neil	...	Abdullah

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Company:

Tiger Aspect Productions

It's Grimm Up North!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I came to this with no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Though pleasant is probably not a good word for pleasant viewing it was not. The opening sets the scene of a white working / underclass woman with her three kids from two different fathers stuck in an abusive relationship with the father of her youngest two children whilst the father sends her eldest daughter on drug delivery errands for him. The mother finally finds the courage to leave and gets re-housed in an Asian Muslim area of Bradford. The premise is how both she and her children deal with the clash of cultures, especially with the return of the abusive partner. To deal with the awfulness of her life Leah the oldest child begins to embrace Islam which sets up some challenging questions and is a thought provoking subject. The director must be commended for letting the camera stare for far to long at the injustices of life for children like these and making the subject matter rightfully difficult viewing. Most of all special praise must go to Holly Kenny playing the role of Leah the oldest daughter who gives a magnificent performance of a put upon child with wisdom and strength way beyond her years without even giving the slightest hint of being one of those dreadful stage school children. Thoroughly challenging and worthwhile viewing which I would seek out again.