Adulthood (film)
Encyclopedia
Adulthood is a 2008 British
drama
film. It was directed and written by Noel Clarke
, who also stars as the protagonist, Sam Peel. Adulthood is a sequel to the 2006 film Kidulthood
, which Clarke also wrote, and depicts Peel's experiences after he is released from jail.
Six years after being sent down for killing Trife in November 2002, Sam is released from prison. As this is happening, we see Sam's old girlfriend Claire with her new boyfriend; Jay having sex with his girlfriend but interrupted by a phone call; and Moony in bed too tired to answer the phone. A man approaches Sam outside the prison gates and lets him know that he can contact him if he needs anything. At the same time, a girl is threatened by a gang claiming she owes them money - or sex - because of her cousin, Becky from the previous film. Sam, while riding the bus, sees two teenagers give up their seat for a woman with shopping bags, contrasting with who he was at that age. When they move, a man is seen on the back seat staring at Sam. They both sit down next to the Cross of Sacrifice
in the cemetery where Trife is buried, and the man attempts conversation. Sam, clearly unnerved, does his best to stay calm but attacks him when he mentions the baseball bat that was used for the murder. During the struggle, the man says, "he was my cousin." Sami is stabbed in the shoulder, but manages to gain control of the fight, kicking the man several times in the chest before controlling his anger. The man informs Sam that he will not survive the day as many people want him dead, and will harm his family if need be. Sam, clearly troubled by these claims, goes to speak to Becky's cousin Lexi at the hair salon where she works, hoping that she might have some information. Sam approaches Claire in the street and asks her if she's seen anyone lately. She tells him Moony goes to the local university. Claire's boyfriend returns and hits Sam, telling him how much emotional damage he did. Sam and Moony meet in a coffee shop, where he tells him that Becky works in a salon, however he refuses to give him Jays number, warning that he has changed for the worse.
In a house, Andreas—the man whose face was slashed in the first film—sits at a table while a man named Zac lectures a teenager about making mistakes. Andreas tells the teenager that he got the scar on his face because he deserved it, and is better for it. Ike burns the teenager's arm with a pair of hair straighteners before kicking him in the chest. Meanwhile; Omen, Dabs and Blammy are robbing a car in broad daylight. They later take what they have stolen round to Ike's house to sell. Jay is on the street trying to sell some drugs to a posh man and his girlfriend, but robs them both when they test his patience. In the middle of the attack, Jay receives the call informing him that Sam is out of prison, and immediately turns his attention to revenge. Sam returns home and is met by his mother who is devastated by everything that has happened. She tells him that whether he meant it or not, he still let her down. Lexi convinces Alisa to talk to Sam. On the train to meet her, he sees Jay boarding the train to meet Moony. Neither are sure whether or not they had seen each other. Sam and Lexi go to Alisa's house but she spits in Sam's face and slaps him, telling him that he took her daughter's dad away. After this, the two go back to Lexi's flat to relax where they end up kissing. They attempt to have sex but Lexi pushes him away, telling him that she was gang raped years ago which led her into drug addiction. As this is happening, Jay meets with Moony and his girlfriend in a café. Jay tells Moony that he could have prevented Trife's death, which convinces him to help Jay track down Sam. However, shortly after, Moony comes to his senses and tells Jay that he needs to move on. Back at Lexi's flat, she notices scars on Sam's back. He tells her he got them in prison when Trife's uncle Curtis attacked him with a crowbar in his cell. Lexi tries to comfort him but the two end up arguing and shoving each other.
Jay goes to Ike's house, seeking help about Sam. He gives Jay a gun and Andreas suggests hiring some of the teenagers to kill Sam. Dabs is called into the room and eventually agrees to do it for £6k. Jay makes it clear that the others cannot see Sam's face when the murder happens. Dabs and Henry leave the house and Dabs tells him about the plan. Not willing to kill a man, Henry tells Dabs not to go through with it. A scuffle happens and Dabs hits Henry over the head with a brick. Later on, Dabs and Blammy meet Omen and tell him about the job. Omen agrees after Dabs lies and says that the target was the one who hurt Henry. They spot someone who looks like him and attack him, but Dabs realises it is not him. Later, they see Sam walking through a park and tackle him to the ground. With his face to the floor, Dabs tells Omen to stab him but Omen insists on seeing his face first. When they turn him around, it is revealed that Omen is Sam's brother. He refuses to kill his own brother and realises that Dabs knew who it was. Dabs mentions the money, but Sam punches him and leaves with the two teenagers. Meanwhile, Jay goes round to Lexi's flat and we find out he is her dealer, and that Lexi was setting up Sam by bringing him back to her flat. Back at Sam and Omen's flat, Sam lectures his brother about what prison is like and that he needs to stay at home in case somebody tries to attack their mother. After this, Lexi finds herself alone pondering whether she should take the drugs Jay gave her.
Sam phones the man he spoke to outside prison and asks for a favour. While walking down the street he bumps into a member of his old gang who is now a community support officer, showing how different their lives became. Sam continues down the street and mugs a couple at gunpoint. He uses the phone he just stole to call the police about an armed robbery, telling them the criminal is going into the house he is about to enter. Using the items he just stole, he goes into Ike's house pretending to want to sell them. Meanwhile, Sam's contact—an enemy of Uncle Curtis—phones Curtis and tells him where Sam is as a peace offering. While Ike is upstairs, Sam puts the gun to Andreas' face and tells him to be quiet. As this is happening, Curtis comes to the house. Him and Ike enter the room and Sam points the gun at them all before damaging Curtis' arm. The armed police show up and arrest Ike, Andreas, and Curtis, whilst Sam retreats to a small bathroom. Before the police can get to him, he escapes through a small window and changes his jumper as he walks down the street. On the way home, Sam is attacked by Jay. Jay holds him at gunpoint and explains that Sam took his life as well as Trife's, as he'd never have kept on down the same path if it was not for him. The two end up fighting and Sam sees a baseball bat he planted under a car earlier. After an attempt from both of them to use their weapons, more fighting happens and Sam ends up at Jay's mercy. However, Jay cannot bring himself to shoot Sam. Sam disarms Jay and tries to shoot himself, realising that he's willing to do it if it will sort out everybody's problems. However, when he pulls the trigger, the gun is not loaded and Sam realises that Jay is just like he was six years ago - all talk with no real intentions. Safe in the knowledge that Jay is not really dangerous, he leaves the fight, Jay tells Sam it's not over and Sam tells Jay that it is over.
After this happens, things start to get better, Moony enjoys a romantic night in with his girlfriend, Alisa looks happy at home with her daughter and mother, as does Claire, Omen is arrested after his mother turns him in, not wanting him to end up in jail like Sam did, and a distraught Jay is comforted by his girlfriend. As all this happens, Sam receives a voicemail message from Lexi apologising and asking him to spend time with her. He goes round to her flat and the two smile as they enter.
, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Sex and the City. After starring in the film, Adam Deacon
decided to write and star in his own urban film, Anuvahood
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
film. It was directed and written by Noel Clarke
Noel Clarke
Noel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, director and screenwriter from London. He is best known for playing Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who...
, who also stars as the protagonist, Sam Peel. Adulthood is a sequel to the 2006 film Kidulthood
Kidulthood
Kidulthood is a 2006 British drama film about the life of several teenagers in Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road area of inner west London. It was directed by Menhaj Huda and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars in the film and directed the sequel, Adulthood...
, which Clarke also wrote, and depicts Peel's experiences after he is released from jail.
Plot
The film begins with a street gathering involving loud music and drinking. Omen, Dabs, Henry and Blammy are there, clearly part of the new generation of teenagers that came after Sam. During this, an expensive car pulls up on the other side of the street. Offended by what they perceive as an insult to the run down neighbourhood, and seeing an opportunity, two of the teenagers approach the car and smash the window. In the scuffle that occurs when they rob the driver, they accidentally shoot the man in the leg, causing everybody to flee the area.Six years after being sent down for killing Trife in November 2002, Sam is released from prison. As this is happening, we see Sam's old girlfriend Claire with her new boyfriend; Jay having sex with his girlfriend but interrupted by a phone call; and Moony in bed too tired to answer the phone. A man approaches Sam outside the prison gates and lets him know that he can contact him if he needs anything. At the same time, a girl is threatened by a gang claiming she owes them money - or sex - because of her cousin, Becky from the previous film. Sam, while riding the bus, sees two teenagers give up their seat for a woman with shopping bags, contrasting with who he was at that age. When they move, a man is seen on the back seat staring at Sam. They both sit down next to the Cross of Sacrifice
Cross of Sacrifice
The Cross of Sacrifice was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission and is usually present in Commonwealth war cemeteries containing 40 or more graves. It is normally a freestanding four point limestone Latin cross in one of three sizes ranging in height from 18 to...
in the cemetery where Trife is buried, and the man attempts conversation. Sam, clearly unnerved, does his best to stay calm but attacks him when he mentions the baseball bat that was used for the murder. During the struggle, the man says, "he was my cousin." Sami is stabbed in the shoulder, but manages to gain control of the fight, kicking the man several times in the chest before controlling his anger. The man informs Sam that he will not survive the day as many people want him dead, and will harm his family if need be. Sam, clearly troubled by these claims, goes to speak to Becky's cousin Lexi at the hair salon where she works, hoping that she might have some information. Sam approaches Claire in the street and asks her if she's seen anyone lately. She tells him Moony goes to the local university. Claire's boyfriend returns and hits Sam, telling him how much emotional damage he did. Sam and Moony meet in a coffee shop, where he tells him that Becky works in a salon, however he refuses to give him Jays number, warning that he has changed for the worse.
In a house, Andreas—the man whose face was slashed in the first film—sits at a table while a man named Zac lectures a teenager about making mistakes. Andreas tells the teenager that he got the scar on his face because he deserved it, and is better for it. Ike burns the teenager's arm with a pair of hair straighteners before kicking him in the chest. Meanwhile; Omen, Dabs and Blammy are robbing a car in broad daylight. They later take what they have stolen round to Ike's house to sell. Jay is on the street trying to sell some drugs to a posh man and his girlfriend, but robs them both when they test his patience. In the middle of the attack, Jay receives the call informing him that Sam is out of prison, and immediately turns his attention to revenge. Sam returns home and is met by his mother who is devastated by everything that has happened. She tells him that whether he meant it or not, he still let her down. Lexi convinces Alisa to talk to Sam. On the train to meet her, he sees Jay boarding the train to meet Moony. Neither are sure whether or not they had seen each other. Sam and Lexi go to Alisa's house but she spits in Sam's face and slaps him, telling him that he took her daughter's dad away. After this, the two go back to Lexi's flat to relax where they end up kissing. They attempt to have sex but Lexi pushes him away, telling him that she was gang raped years ago which led her into drug addiction. As this is happening, Jay meets with Moony and his girlfriend in a café. Jay tells Moony that he could have prevented Trife's death, which convinces him to help Jay track down Sam. However, shortly after, Moony comes to his senses and tells Jay that he needs to move on. Back at Lexi's flat, she notices scars on Sam's back. He tells her he got them in prison when Trife's uncle Curtis attacked him with a crowbar in his cell. Lexi tries to comfort him but the two end up arguing and shoving each other.
Jay goes to Ike's house, seeking help about Sam. He gives Jay a gun and Andreas suggests hiring some of the teenagers to kill Sam. Dabs is called into the room and eventually agrees to do it for £6k. Jay makes it clear that the others cannot see Sam's face when the murder happens. Dabs and Henry leave the house and Dabs tells him about the plan. Not willing to kill a man, Henry tells Dabs not to go through with it. A scuffle happens and Dabs hits Henry over the head with a brick. Later on, Dabs and Blammy meet Omen and tell him about the job. Omen agrees after Dabs lies and says that the target was the one who hurt Henry. They spot someone who looks like him and attack him, but Dabs realises it is not him. Later, they see Sam walking through a park and tackle him to the ground. With his face to the floor, Dabs tells Omen to stab him but Omen insists on seeing his face first. When they turn him around, it is revealed that Omen is Sam's brother. He refuses to kill his own brother and realises that Dabs knew who it was. Dabs mentions the money, but Sam punches him and leaves with the two teenagers. Meanwhile, Jay goes round to Lexi's flat and we find out he is her dealer, and that Lexi was setting up Sam by bringing him back to her flat. Back at Sam and Omen's flat, Sam lectures his brother about what prison is like and that he needs to stay at home in case somebody tries to attack their mother. After this, Lexi finds herself alone pondering whether she should take the drugs Jay gave her.
Sam phones the man he spoke to outside prison and asks for a favour. While walking down the street he bumps into a member of his old gang who is now a community support officer, showing how different their lives became. Sam continues down the street and mugs a couple at gunpoint. He uses the phone he just stole to call the police about an armed robbery, telling them the criminal is going into the house he is about to enter. Using the items he just stole, he goes into Ike's house pretending to want to sell them. Meanwhile, Sam's contact—an enemy of Uncle Curtis—phones Curtis and tells him where Sam is as a peace offering. While Ike is upstairs, Sam puts the gun to Andreas' face and tells him to be quiet. As this is happening, Curtis comes to the house. Him and Ike enter the room and Sam points the gun at them all before damaging Curtis' arm. The armed police show up and arrest Ike, Andreas, and Curtis, whilst Sam retreats to a small bathroom. Before the police can get to him, he escapes through a small window and changes his jumper as he walks down the street. On the way home, Sam is attacked by Jay. Jay holds him at gunpoint and explains that Sam took his life as well as Trife's, as he'd never have kept on down the same path if it was not for him. The two end up fighting and Sam sees a baseball bat he planted under a car earlier. After an attempt from both of them to use their weapons, more fighting happens and Sam ends up at Jay's mercy. However, Jay cannot bring himself to shoot Sam. Sam disarms Jay and tries to shoot himself, realising that he's willing to do it if it will sort out everybody's problems. However, when he pulls the trigger, the gun is not loaded and Sam realises that Jay is just like he was six years ago - all talk with no real intentions. Safe in the knowledge that Jay is not really dangerous, he leaves the fight, Jay tells Sam it's not over and Sam tells Jay that it is over.
After this happens, things start to get better, Moony enjoys a romantic night in with his girlfriend, Alisa looks happy at home with her daughter and mother, as does Claire, Omen is arrested after his mother turns him in, not wanting him to end up in jail like Sam did, and a distraught Jay is comforted by his girlfriend. As all this happens, Sam receives a voicemail message from Lexi apologising and asking him to spend time with her. He goes round to her flat and the two smile as they enter.
Cast
- Noel ClarkeNoel ClarkeNoel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, director and screenwriter from London. He is best known for playing Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who...
as Sam Peel - Adam DeaconAdam DeaconAdam Deacon is a British actor and rapper from Hackney, North-East London who rose to prominence after starring in the film Kidulthood as well as the sequel Adulthood...
as Jay - Scarlett Alice JohnsonScarlett JohnsonScarlett Johnson also known as Scarlett Alice Johnson is a British actress.Johnson attended Highgate Wood School and Performing Arts College where she was spotted by an agent in a production of Guys and Dolls in which she played the lead.The role of Vicki Fowler on the BBC's flagship soap opera...
as Lexi - Femi OyeniranFemi OyeniranOluwafemi Oyeniran is a British actor and grime artist, notable for his role as "Moony" in the 2006 film Kidulthood and its 2008 sequel Adulthood.-Career:...
as Moony - Red MadrellRed MadrellRed Madrell is a British actress who is best known for her role as Alisa in the 2006 British film Kidulthood, as well as Adulthood which was released June 2008...
as Alisa - Jacob AndersonJacob AndersonJacob Anderson is an actor probably best known for starring as Omen in the British film Adulthood. He played Angelo in the film 4.3.2.1...
as Omen - Ben Drew (Plan B) as Dabs
- Wil JohnsonWil JohnsonWilbert "Wil" Johnson is an English actor, who has had notable television roles in Waking the Dead and Babyfather, and on stage in Othello.- Early life :...
as Big Man - Nathan ConstanceNathan ConstanceNathan Constance is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Ian Walmsley in the TV series Footballers' Wives, Leon Richards in the TV series Dream Team and as Josh Mitchell in the TV series Bad Girls...
as Zac - Adjoa AndohAdjoa AndohAdjoa Andoh is a British film, television, stage and radio actress of Ghanaian descent. Andoh is known on the UK stage for lead roles at the RSC, the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and the Almeida Theatre, and is a familiar face on British television Adjoa Andoh (born 1962) is a British...
as Mrs. Peel - Madeleine FairleyMadeleine FairleyMadeleine Fairley is a British film and television actress.-Career:She is best known for her appearances in the film Kidulthood and its sequel Adulthood .-Filmography:* Kidulthood as Claire...
as Claire - Lindsey Jordan as Devo
- Kiera Booth as Tramp
- Danny DyerDanny DyerDanny Dyer is an English actor, media personality, and chairman of Greenwich Borough, a non-League football team.-Biography:Daniel John Dyer was born in Custom House, an area of East London, to Antony and Christine Dyer...
as Hayden - Arnold Oceng as Henry
- Don Klass as Blammy
Soundtrack
Adulthood: Music from the Motion Picture was released on June 30, 2008 by Altered Ego.- "Over Here" (Maniac & BashyBashyAshley Thomas , better known by his stage name Bashy, is an English recording artist and actor. He rose to prominence in 2007 after the release of his controversial track "Black Boys".-Early life:...
featuring Ghetts & J2K) - "End in the Streets" (Plan BPlan BPlan B is a popular term used to mean a reserved, secondary plan, in case a first plan fails. Plan B is also an FDA-approved emergency contraception drug.It also may refer to:-People:...
) - "F Ur Ex" (SwaySway DaSafoDerek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
) - "My Dunks" (The Clik Clik)
- "Paranoid" (Dizzee RascalDizzee RascalDylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
) - "Kids of the Underground" (Scarlett & Viva featuring The Audio Bullys)
- "Reppin' London" (Sincere featuring D Double E & ScorcherScorcher (rapper)Scorcher is a rapper and producer from North London.-Biography:Scorcher is a grime MC and producer from Enfield, North London. He began his career in Cold Blooded where he became known for his 'shank' bars, and would regularly attend pirate radio and work his way up through the North London grime...
) - "Follow" (Tinchy StryderTinchy StryderKwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
) - "Running for Life" (Eliza Doolittle)
- "On It 08" (Adam DeaconAdam DeaconAdam Deacon is a British actor and rapper from Hackney, North-East London who rose to prominence after starring in the film Kidulthood as well as the sequel Adulthood...
featuring Plan BPlan BPlan B is a popular term used to mean a reserved, secondary plan, in case a first plan fails. Plan B is also an FDA-approved emergency contraception drug.It also may refer to:-People:...
, Snakeyman, Blazay & Alphadecious) - "Bars of Truth" (No Lay)
- "Who Are You" (ChipmunkChipmunk (rapper)Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
) - "Look What You've Done" (Lethal BizzleLethal BizzleLethal Bizzle, also known as Lethal B , is a Ghanaian British rapper. His songs are known to satirise modern Gangsta rap; much of the humour comes from the adoption of hip-hop style and language...
featuring Kate NashKate NashKate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
) - "Kids" (Goldie Locks)
- "Grime Kid" (WileyWiley (rapper)Richard Kylea Cowie , better known by his stage name Wiley is a prolific British music producer, MC and recording artist, and rapper with roots from Trinidad...
) - "I Need Love" (Plan BPlan BPlan B is a popular term used to mean a reserved, secondary plan, in case a first plan fails. Plan B is also an FDA-approved emergency contraception drug.It also may refer to:-People:...
featuring Jacob AndersonJacob AndersonJacob Anderson is an actor probably best known for starring as Omen in the British film Adulthood. He played Angelo in the film 4.3.2.1...
) - "Run Dry" (Kerry-Anne Leatham)
- "Reach" (Skrein)
- "Adamhood" (Adam DeaconAdam DeaconAdam Deacon is a British actor and rapper from Hackney, North-East London who rose to prominence after starring in the film Kidulthood as well as the sequel Adulthood...
) - "Arms Open Wide" (ShystieShystieChanelle Scott Calica , also known as Shystie, is an English female rapper-songwriter and actress. Her mother was born and raised in Barbados and her father born and raised in Grenada making her heritage West-Indian. She grew up in Hackney, East London...
) - "Kidulthood to Adulthood" (Maniac & BashyBashyAshley Thomas , better known by his stage name Bashy, is an English recording artist and actor. He rose to prominence in 2007 after the release of his controversial track "Black Boys".-Early life:...
)
Reception
The film received positive reviews, but was criticised for melodrama and "unrelenting aggro". It grossed £1,203,319 at the UK box office during its opening weekend, ranking above The Incredible HulkThe Incredible Hulk (film)
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Sex and the City. After starring in the film, Adam Deacon
Adam Deacon
Adam Deacon is a British actor and rapper from Hackney, North-East London who rose to prominence after starring in the film Kidulthood as well as the sequel Adulthood...
decided to write and star in his own urban film, Anuvahood
Anuvahood
Anuvahood is an urban comedy film directed by Adam Deacon. Starring Adam Deacon, Paul Kaye, Wil Johnson, Ollie Barbieri, Femi Oyeniran, Jocelyn Jee Esien and Ashley Walters as the lead stars, Anuvahood was released on March 18, 2011...
.
Awards and nominations
- Screen NationScreen NationThe Screen Nation Film & TV Awards was founded in 2003 by , as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international film and television talent....
- Honorary Production Award 2009
- BAFTA Awards
- Orange Rising Star Award 2009: (Noel Clarke) Winner