Everywhere and Nowhere

Everywhere & Nowhere is a coming of age Drama Directed by Menhaj Huda (same guy that brought us Kidulthood, 2006). This film is centred around a British Asian torn between honouring his family traditions and his love for DJing. Its Starring James Floyd, Adam Deacon, Alyy Khan, Shivani Ghani, Shaheen Khan, Saeed Jaffrey, Katia Winter & Simon Webbe.

Here's a film that looked like another version of Adulthood/Kidulthood from the trailers but turned out to be a disappointing drama about family, decisions, terrorism and last chances. I thought this was going to be the Asian version to one of Adam Deacons Hood series. Thank god they didn't call this one 'Asianhood'. It had some elements from the film Bend It Like Beckham but this time the main person is a boy and swap the Football for Djing.

We couldn't understand why they thought to put this in the cinema, why not BBC 1 on a random Friday night?. The storyline takes way too long to take form and when it hit the real issue the message was not put across properly. There are scenes that are not really necessary, they spent too much time dwelling on things that don't matter. We the audience do not get enough on other characters to understand them. There's nothing this story tells the audience that the world does not know already. There's also nothing that showed us that it cost a lot to make (a couple flats, houses, nightclubs, couple cars) and that's it really. Also the way it ends it inexcusable. its just seems to come to crashing halt after a major shake of the story's equilibrium.

The best thing about the whole film is the music, the creative and fresh side of our main guy Ash comes in. We hear good remixes to Bollywood classics that we have not heard before. From the end product of this film you wouldn't be able to tell that the same Director Menhaj Huda directed Kidulthood (doesn't show at all). He tries to bring us into the world of other cultures but the story has no charisma. The cinematography & screenplay is average.

Main character Ash (Floyd) did his best but wasn't able to showcase his talent enough. We wondered why Adam Deacon makes a random appearance in this film, he does a great job (as usual) as Zaf but we could obviously tell he was put in this film for it to create a buzz (without him nobody would think twice about watching this). Seems everybody is an actor nowadays even Simon the singer from Blue is doing it, he plays a DJ called Ronnie in love with an Asian girl. Ghani, Buckley, Revah, Winter, Malik, Fletcher, Jaffrey all do good enough job. OK Cast.

The soundtrack and club scenes had been the draw and I was expecting a flimsy story line as a byline to an otherwise powerful music experience. The music did not disappoint, an exciting mix of club, and Asian mixes was perfectly blended into the storyline. What surprised was the story. Yes there are a lot of threads, some left incomplete, but the central character, played brilliantly by new face James Floyd, provides a strong and highly believable performance. His relationship with a beautifully cast Alyy Khan as the up tight, straight-laced traditional brother is just right. Khan's contempt for Floyd's character is exquisitely played. Floyd is supported by a great looking young cast of talented young actors, Shivani Ghai is stunning. Elyes Gabel, Neet Mohan join more mainstream Adam Deacon as the central group of friends. Gabel in particular is a revelation, engaging and good looking, but able to carry off his "screwed-up" character's role really well. The story gives a rarely seen insight into the life of young British Asian's which captures the conflicts and contradictions that exist. It is also interesting to see the family conflict not from the parents to their children but between siblings. Katia Winter and Simon Webbe add some interesting spice. Menhaj Huda as made a movie which gets over an angle and a story about growing up in London that does not fall into the trap of terrorism or East is East shallowness. This film may not be for everyone, but it is an accomplished story, with a great young cast and a stunning soundtrack.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Ash (James Floyd) is a young British Asian with troubles at home and with his friends, who comes alive following his true passion- mixing tracks in his bedroom at home, and hoping one day to break through in to the big time doing a set at one of London's top clubs. But he is forced to navigate his way through various trials and tribulations, with friends including a potential Muslim extremist and a home life where he comes to know a secret that could shatter his father's position in the family forever.

Director Menhaj Huda has followed up Kidulthood with a film that's received even less publicity and exposure, and probably won't end up with half the cult status. While Kidulthood was hardly a Steven Spielberg film, the small budget here is even more in evidence, especially at the beginning. From the outset, it shows signs of not being half the engaging or powerful story Kidulthood was, but it gradually develops in to a more developed, multi layered story that genuinely keeps you on edge as to how it will work out and how the characters will come out of their various situations.

As well as a varied, multi layered story, the cast also has some impressive additions, chiefly Art Malik, but with a support cast that also consists of the likes of James Buckley, Adam Deacon and Simon Webbe, who variously make different contributions and have various screen time but all variously raise the bar that bit more. ***

I went to see the movie twice and the second time I enjoyed it even more. There is a lot going on, much more than you first expect. The different characters are all very complex and interesting though very realistic. The race/ generation/ traditional family cultural clash is only the main stage where every single personage has to find a way to save himself. Every single characters has the same strong desire of "freedom" but each of them finds different ways of expressing it. Friendship, love, brotherhoods and the unexpected conclusion.... I loved the film all the way along...All these emotions and feelings while a fantastic, innovative music plays for you all along.Bel film!!!!!!!