Elisa Lasowski, Ireneusz Czop, Kate Dickie

Focuses on the area of London named Somers Town, where a young Polish immigrant named Marek strikes up a friendship with a runaway teen from the Midlands. An unlikely friendship begins and a love tria...( read more  read more... )ngle unfolds as they both develop romantic feelings for a French girl who works in the local cafe.

Flixster Users

75% liked it

1,194 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

46 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 15 min.

Directed by: Shane Meadows

Release Date: February 9, 2008

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DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009

Stats: 410 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (410)


  • May 17, 2009
    A much anticipated film for me and yet another great performance from Thomas Turgoose, who proves yet again his natural acting abilities.

    The story is kind of slow moving, but has the harsh reality we?ve all come to know as Shane Meadows trademark, not quite ?Dead Man?s Shoes?...( read more) or ?This is England? yet a storyline which draws you in and focuses on the friendship of two boys drawn together by each of their own lonely circumstances.
  • April 3, 2009
    Short, sweet and simple. Meadows does the intelligent thing of actually dialing it down a notch after This is England. It's a brief view of two very different boys that start a unique friendship. The film makes enough comments on life in England. It also works as a bridge between...( read more) immigrants and natives. A London set Stand By Me with affecting emotional performances and enough comedy to keep it light and fresh.
  • January 15, 2009
    Minor work which reflects its origins as a short film. Has all Meadow's trademark warmth and humour but lacks the grit.
  • August 30, 2008
    Well, it won't change your life and it is very slight - in length, obviously, but it also really did feel like half a story. Quite literally with it's frustrating ending - the screen goes black and the credits roll just as things start to happen. Did the makers run out ofmoney?

    ...( read more)Speaking of money, I noticed that Shane Meadows was criticised for making, what some feel, is a glorified advert for Eurostar. What?!
    I can't say I noticed anyone mentioning Eurostar by name. The station does feature prominently and one character mentions the short length of time it takes to get to Paris and our heroes do eventually visit Paris. But so what?? I, for one, wouldn't have taken much notice of this if it weren't for the fact that someone else thought it was significant. And as far as I'm concerned it was a very small price to pay if Eurostar has seen fit to invest in British Film in the first place. I'm glad someone is! Well done to them.
    Would anyone have even noticed if the characters spent half the film in Starbucks (have you seen I Am Sam??!) or MacDonalds drinking Pepsi or Coke? Personally I can't think of anything better to promote in a film than traveling by train (a cinematic staple as old as the medium itself) and I'm glad Shane Meadows is getting the cash from somewhere.

    Anyhoo... Somers Town is a lot of fun and the characters are extremely likable. Shot in black and white (except for a candy-coloured finale), which can usually create a distance with audiences used to colour, it's still filmed with Meadows' typically naturalistic and earthy way, (lots of improv for sure) making the characters feel very immediate (almost nouvelle vague! but more raw instead of cool!). And, unusually for Meadows, no-one is killed or brutalised (well not seriously anyway!) so that the smile stays till the credits roll and you leave the cinema with a jaunty swagger instead of your tail between your legs.
  • June 27, 2008
    "Although I haven't seen all of Shane Meadows' films, I consider myself a fan after seeing his two excellent flicks, Dead Man's Shoes and This Is England. Somers Town is his latest; a short and sweet tale that's funny, enjoyable and very hard to dislike."




    <...( read more)BR>


    Full Review Here
  • October 22, 2009
    Firstly i'm not a huge Meadows fan. I did like Dead Mans Shoes and Thomas Turgoose in This is England is fantastic. Although the majority of his films i've found quite dark this is totally the opposite and is the most unlikeliest of heart-warming tales you will ever see. Highly R...( read more)ecommended indeed! and has now gone down as one of my all time favourites. Bit on the short side but i feel this isnt a bad thing as it doesnt drag in anyway and is perfect in its entirety. Specially loved how this is intimatly shot in black and white and jumps into colour at the end of the movie to represent a happy ending.
  • October 17, 2009
    Another interestinga and well made film from Shane Meadowns.
  • September 13, 2009
    Ok movie but could have been better
    No need for it to be black and white
    And only 71 minutes long
  • July 19, 2009
    Got a signed copy of the DVD, just need to sit down and watch it now....
  • July 18, 2009
    This sound like a goood movie to watch

Critic Reviews


July 16, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Like its star, the movie is too short and a little thin but just about perfect. full review

July 15, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

Somers Town is not Shane Meadows' best film, but it has his finest qualities: an appreciation of British working-class life as detailed as Ken Loach's, characterizations as realistic as Mike Leigh's a... full review

July 14, 2009
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

Somers Town, shot in glimmering black and white, reveals a working class England that brims with possibility. full review

August 22, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

If Somers Town were any more unassuming, it would risk disappearing completely. Seventy-two minutes long, in black and white, with a cast as starless as a cloudy night, it is a British triumph.

View more Somers Town reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • xshanaex
    December 11, 2008
    Not seen this yet , expecting good things as i enjoyed shane meadows other films.
    Looks good though and worth the watch as thomas turgoose is it in and i think hes an amasing actor.

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