Lesley N (lesleyanorton)

British film, and the first feature length film ever made by a black British film-maker, about the experience of being black and coming of age in the 70's, when racism was overt and egg and bacon was a healthy start to the day. Made on a budget, its a little rough around the edges, but still an engrossing film, mostly due to the excellent performance by Herbert Norville as the lead character Tony finding his place and beliefs in a world that is intent on choosing them for him. It was controversial in its time (banned by the BFI for two years) but would barely flicker an eyelid if shown on TV now. This is a good thing.

Excellent sports film that resolutely skips all the expected beats. What, no standing ovation at the end? No sage advice from a gnarled old pro at the three quarters stage? No montage of stunning action shots wowing the crowd at the half way mark? Instead this focusses on the immigrant experience of getting into big money sport, the good and the bad, and suggests, in a hopeful ending so gentle you barely see it coming, that possibly there's shhh.... more to life than baseball after all. Well worth a watch.

The music, the atmosphere, the story, the subject matter.. brilliant. One of those documentaries that stays in the mind fo a long time afterwards.