London to Brighton

Director: Paul Andrew Williams.

Siren Visual

R4 DVD

At 3:07AM, Joanne (Georgia Groome) is in a sleazy public toilet somewhere in London. Joanne, who is an 11 year old runaway, is washing lipstick off her face and crying uncontrollably whilst Kelly (Lorraine Stanley), a prostitute, attempts to console her. Kelly’s face is bruised and battered.

They have just left the home of Duncan Allen (Alexander Morton), a rich man with a penchant for young girls, who lies dying in a pool of blood in his bathroom. It seems he got more than he bargained for when he attempted to purchase Joanne’s favours. Duncan’s son, Stuart Allen (Sam Spruell), a sociopathic local criminal finds his dying father and is none too impressed. He wants answers and....... revenge.

He sends his thugs out to visit Derrick (Johnny Harris) for information and when Derrick explains he supplied Duncan Allen with a child prostitute he wants to know where the child and her minder is.

Kelly and Joanne know they are in trouble and board a train to Brighton in an attempt to escape and the story begins.

This is an impressive first film from a previously unknown director, Paul Andrew Williams. It was made on a low budget with unknown actors and funded by a grant from UK lotteries. It just shows what can be done with a superb script and innovative filmmaking. It is even more surprising when we note that London to Brighton received numerous awards with the director winning a BAFTA for the most promising upcoming director in the industry.

London to Brighton is not a comfortable viewer experience; it explores the underbelly of London’s criminals and pimps where everything is for sale. It offers a fairly straight forward if not harrowing journey of Kelly and Joanne trying to escape while at the same time developing a bond of friendship. While at the same time we slowly see “flashbacks” of the disastrous events which have led them to where they are. Its unflinching portrayal of how hard choices can lead to terrible consequences is painful and disturbing.

This is a powerful film with superb cinematography, a moody and dark soundtrack and a story which will haunt you for a long time.

Extras include: Deleted Scenes, Georgia Groom Audition, Q&A, Behind the Scenes featurette and a Director's Commentary.