Bridgend

Never leave town!

Tricky. For anyone familiar with the very real instance about the spate of suicides that has blighted the Welsh county of Bridgend, then this film is likely to be a mixed viewing experience. For sure during the film one can't help but keep thinking about the real events, the theories and facts of such, so it's a little distracting because Jeppe Rønde's film demands the utmost attention throughout.

It should be noted with all seriousness that this is only a meditation on the real events, it's not offering up answers, so people should seek out all official text and documentary of the events for the real picture. The film operates in the haunting space of the ethereal, both narratively and visually, with the youngsters...

Theres a documentary made a few years earlier that is way more informative about these events in Bridgend than this really quite messy dramatisation. This really centres around the relationship between the newly arrived Sara (Hannah Murray) whose dad Dave (Steven Waddington) is a police officer and Jamie (Josh OConnor). The latter lad is a lifer in this town and quite possibly knows something of what has caused the almost lemming-like suicidal activity that is puzzling this small community. Unfortunately, this film chooses not to focus on any aspects of these tragedies, but more to shine its light on the boozy and thuggish activities of the towns fairly lawless youth - which I have to say, isnt really very interesting. Its got OConnor in it...