2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Three friends, Cappo (Elliot Edusah), Two Tonne (Jordan Peters), and Kidda (Reda Elazouar), are trying to find a way into the biggest New Year’s celebration of the millennium. It’s 1999, and as the three best friends are on the brink of adulthood, they realize that the dynamic of their friendship will likely change–and they are looking for an opportunity to rekindle what they’ve had for years. As they journey through London, their relationship will be tested, but that may be good for the friends. Pirates is a coming-of-age story of epic proportions, full of non-stop laughs.
Comedy and drama marry one another in this bildungsroman, and both shine incredibly bright on their own and together throughout the course of Pirates. The film begins strong, pulling viewers in using silly dance moves and energetic music–and it never relents from this point forward. The drama is real, and I’ve experienced situations like the three friends face among themselves, but the comedy keeps the tone of the film somewhat even keeled, and it allows viewers the ability to connect with what is occurring throughout. This perfect blend of humor and reality smacks viewers in the face, and they are sure to love it–I know I did.
Through Pirates are splashes of nostalgia that are sure to appeal to viewers who grew up in the 1990’s. I’m thirty-one years old, and I can remember flip phones, cheesy ringtones, and Y2K, and these things transcend the entirety of Pirates. Things like this appeal to a niche group of viewers, but writer-director Reggie Yates doesn’t pigeonhole himself and his film–and he finds ways to appeal to viewers of all ages and walks of life. Through the soundtrack, the beautiful visuals, and the relevance of the entire film, viewers from everywhere are able to appreciate Pirates. The film is beautifully constructed, and it pulls viewers into a spiraling story of young adulthood that mirrors the lives we’ve all led at some point. It’s the kick in the pants that everyone needs to remember who their friends are, who they can trust, and what’s really important in life.
Finally a film that takes place on the brink of Y2K, and it doesn’t drown itself in paranoia regarding the expected crash and burn of the technological era. This time period is simply used as a vehicle to express a series of relevant and relatable topics. It’s a breath of fresh air for a film to veer from the typical and become its own–and that’s exactly what Pirates is. It’s a small piece of the puzzle, but it speaks volumes to the fact that Yates wants to be original any way that he can.
Speaking of originality–Pirates reminds me so much of The Inbetweeners (not the show, but the film). A group of young friends trying to traverse the realities of their lives and their friendship–but constantly finding issues along the way. The characters’ candor and their senses of humor are comparable, but Pirates finds a way to shift the narrative just a bit, and create something unique enough not to feel too derivative. Pirates ultimately becomes a beautiful story of friendship, and I can’t imagine anyone not loving this film. It’s a testament to mankind in the best way possible; Pirates has become one of my favorites films of the year.
Written & Directed by Reggie Yates.
Starring Elliot Edusah, Reda Elazouar, Jordan Peters, Youssef Kerkour, Kassius Nelson, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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