"PIRATES" // SXSW 2022
PIRATES is a trip down memory lane, literally, as it takes us back into Y2K New Year's Eve in London. Written & Directed by Reggie Yates, the film stars Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters and Reda Elazouar as three friends (Cappo, Two Tonne & Kidda) who are in search for the ultimate end of the millenium NYE party. Since it's set in 1999, it's a time capsule of how things used to be pre-cell phones and social media. The internet has started but is still in its infancy stage. No one owns cell phones and in order to score the best party tickets, you head to a record store, not online where you'll have to fight thousands of bots just to get one ticket. The three friends have a pirate radio station but due to Cappo leaving to go to University, the trio is fracturing at the seams.
Two Tonne wants this party. No, he NEEDS this party, to make himself feel seen and to impress Sophie (Kassius Nelson), a young woman who he's been crushing on for some time. The film then follows the trio as they attend to prepare for their night. From getting the perfect threads to getting the perfect haircut to attempting to connect as three friends who have been through it all. But this might be the evening to change it all going forward. Yates directs the film with a stylish saunter, a film taking its time as it simply exists in the life of three friends. The late 90's soundtrack, coupled with great performances by Edusah, Elazouar, Nelson & breakout Peters make PIRATES a true winner. The script is fun and meaningful and successfully brings us back to the days where things seemed simpler with less technology, but the nights still went the same.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Reggie Yates STARRING Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters, Reda Elazouar, Kassius Nelson, Youssef Kerkour, Rebekkah Murrell, Shiloh Coke, Tosin Cole, Aaron Shosanya. SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: PIRATES