UK / Channel 4 – Company Pictures / 2008
Writer: Roy Williams from his play of the same name / Producer: Matt Jones / Director: Ian Rickson
Drama. Policeman Joe returning to the estate he grew up on to investigate the murder of a black teenager.
When 16 year old, Kwame (Lanre Malaolu), is stabbed to death by a local gang, the lives, feelings and fears of the young perpetrators and the police officers investigating the crime are exposed in full. At a time when it has never been more important to understand why some of our youth would arm themselves and commit devastating acts of violence, Williams is unflinching in capturing the culture and circumstances that are wrecking young lives.
Fallout was written as a passionate and powerful reflection on race, law and order in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence and Damilola Taylor cases and has been rewritten in light of the recent escalation in youth violence. It was revealed earlier this month that the number of young people prosecuted for firearms offences has risen by 20 per cent in the past five years.
Cast: LENNIE JAMES as Joe / Aml Ameen / Charles Mnene / Jumayn Hunter / Bunmi Mojekwu / Nicholas Gleaves / Jerome Holder / Gugu Mbatha-Raw