Penny Woolcock is renowned for writing and directing some of the most refreshingly provocative and audacious work in Britain today. She is a director who you can genuinely describe as innovative, uncompromising, and with buckets of integrity to boot.



‘1 Day’ is her latest – a GRIME or HIP HOP MUSICAL (!), shot on the streets around Handsworth, Birmingham with an entire cast of actors from its local streets. Punctuated with exhilarating rap set-pieces, the film follows the violent, troubled life of Flash, a drug dealer who has less than 24hours to return 100k that he owes gang-leader Angel, recently released from prison.



The film has caused quite a stir. More on that in a minute but first.. the opening sequence.. is BRILLIANT.. It blew me over with exquisite ferocity. I’ve always believed Jarmusch is the king of musical opening sequences, but even this knocks out his brilliant RZA track that opened Ghost Dog. The opening for 1 Day is a stunning in-your-face rap that throws you back in your seat, right up close, as rival gang members swagger down back alleys.


The opening, with all its tribal anger and colours flying at the fore, sets up the tone and insight for much of what is to come. It’s menacing, thrilling, terrifying and seductive. But ultimately, it’s also foreboding and troubling.





Flash (magnetic newcomer Dylan Duffus) is soon on the run, attempting to get his cash by dealing to kids, avoiding the ‘baby-mothers’ he has several children by, trying to help his gran with her shopping, all whilst avoiding being shot. The consequences of being trapped in the game soon become brutally apparent – not just for Flash – but for others around him. A young boy is drawn to Flash (played by a totally captivating Ohran Whyte) and forced onto the street by his addict mother. Watching him subsequently get drawn into a life of crime for a new pair of Nikes is heartbreaking.





The film has typically Woolcockian flourishes – terrific performances from an entirely street cast film, an authenticity that is hard to describe (no doubt aided by all the local consultations that took place before filming), stunning tracks, moments of dark humour and an uncompromising subjectivity that explores the senselessness and hollow entrapment for those struggling to live on the margins. Tonally it feels similar to the likes of The Wire and Boyz in the Hood.


The film has also stirred up a lot of controversy.

A recent review online from a university lecturer claims that although the lecturer has not seen the film, he watched the trailer and believes the film is a ‘cynical attempt to capitalise on the problem of the UK’s black gang culture’.


I urge him instead to stop freaking out about a trailer and actually go and see the film.


And I urge all of us Shooters to take our friends, support Penny Woolcock and support the kind of bold, independent films she is making. Together we really can help give ‘I Day’ a life in the cinemas by seeing it on Opening Weekend.



Cath Le Couteur
Shooting People


1 Day opens in UK cinemas on November 6. Please see your local listings. Join ‘1 Day’ on facebook here.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 8:55 pm and is filed under The Times BFI London Film Festival. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.