My Brother the Devil (15)

Time Out says

Wed Nov 7 2012

If you’ve seen ‘Kidulthood’ and ‘Ill Manors’, and the thought of another dose of gritty gangland realism is about as appealing as licking the tube floor, think again. In her impressive debut, Sally El Hosaini rifles through the coming-of-age film handbook, but she’s got a Mike Leigh-like skill for getting under the skin of a family. Brothers Rashid (James Floyd) and Mo (Fady Elsayed) have grown up on a Hackney council estate. Rashid sparkles with the invincible charisma of a stupidly good-looking, bright young man. In another life he’d have the world at his feet. Instead, he’s dealing drugs and trying to keep Mo off the streets. Mo idolises his big brother until he discovers a secret that, for him, is so terrible he’d prefer their mates to think that Rashid is a terrorist. This will be a calling-card for everyone involved. James Floyd in particular must now be on everydirector’s must-cast list. If Daniel Craig hangs up his tux and anyone’slooking for the first mixed-race Bond, here’s your man.

Author: Cath Clarke