Hallam Foe
Cert 18, 1hr 35 mins
Dir: David MacKenzie
There are moments in this film which are so far from reality that you question whether it can do full justice to the poignant theme of love, loss and anger. Yet its surrealist charm also draws you in, wondering how it is all going to end and it is this that makes it such an engaging film.
Hallam Foe (Jamie Bell) is a teenager coming to terms with the death of his mother, whom he clearly adored. With all the sensitivity of a brick his father (Ciaran Hinds) gets remarried rather precipitately, an act which causes Foe to take against both his father and his manipulative new wife whom he regards as having a hand in his mother’s death. After a number of ‘events’ at home, Foe withdraws into himself and flees to the rooftops of Edinburgh to become a vagrant, his father having cut off any access to funds. Through sheer chutzpah he secures a job at a large hotel, falls in love with the head of personnel, (who looks just like his mother) and through this torrid relationship eventually finds redemption.
Having been so brilliant as Billy Elliot, Jamie Bell has the unenviable task of following it up with another memorable performance. As a film Hallam Foe is not the equal of Billy Elliot but Bell is developing well as an actor and does full justice to the impudent and resourceful character that is Foe. Furthermore, Edinburgh provides a wonderful backcloth to an enthralling tale which never drags and provides an inner glow.
Rating: 3/5
CA
