LONDON TO BRIGHTON

UK, 2006, 85 minutes, Colour.
Lorraine Stanley, Georgia Groome, Sam Spruell, Alexander Morton, Johnny Harris.
Directed by Paul Andrew Williams.

London to Brighton is a very effective first film by Paul Andrew Williams, a small-budget drama with a non-starry cast.

The two locations of the title are symbolic – as is the train ride between the two cities. The narrative is not told directly. We are shown flashbacks from the points of view of different characters, each throwing light on the other, so that at the end we have experienced a de profundis (‘out of the depths’) experience for a young woman and a young girl.

This is a film about the sordid aspects of London: a man who pimps for wealthy businessmen, his prostitute friend and contact, the twelve year old runaway who is enticed into a sexual situation and the son of the businessman who wants revenge for the death of his father.

The sordid events take place in London. Brighton is a place of refuge – though not for long and definitely not permanently. It provides a respite for abused characters before they have to face reality again.

The cast is persuasive, especially Lorraine Stanley as the prostitute who has not lost heart despite the ugly world in which she has to operate (which she does with a mixture of nonchalance, fear and regret) and Georgia Groome as the immature youngster who is caught up in sex and violence without the capacity for dealing with it.

Williams offers us a glimpse into this world and its haunted and hunted characters and does so with cinematic flair.

1. Small-scale drama, introduction to a sordid world? A harsh world? Possibilities for escape?

2. The title, London and the ugly world, prostitution, wealth, business and sexual exploitation? Revenge? The contrast with Brighton, a refuge, hope? And Joanne finally arriving at her grandmother’s house? The musical score?

3. The style of storytelling, the into cutting and interpretation?

4. The introduction to Kelly and Joanne, into the toilet, the bruises? The ages? Audience puzzle?

5. The revelation about Kelly, life, age, work, relationship with Derek, pimp, procuring young girls? Kelly wanting to help Joanne? The beating? The escape on the train, getting
to Brighton, Kelly still working as a prostitute, to get the money for Joanne’s trip to her grandmother’s? Kelly and her friends in Brighton, the prostitutes and their help?

6. Joanne, her age, experience, victim, being used, by Derek, by the businessman? Reliance on Kelly?

7. Derek, Kelly, pimp, the sordid world, his work?

8. The businessman, liking young girls, the sleazy atmosphere? His death? His son, the pursuit?

9. Brighton, the build up to the showdown, the situation, the gun – and Stuart changing his mind and letting Kelly and Joanne live?

10. Kelly watching Joanne, reunited with her grandmother? Leaving?

11. A slice of British criminal life?