Gully

"Gully" is a provocative, raw, and unfiltered film set in a near dystopian version of Los Angeles. Released in 2019 and directed by notable music video director Nabil Elderkin in his feature-length directorial debut, the movie offers a fresh and new perspective on the city known as the City of Angels.

The film stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jacob Latimore, and Charlie Plummer as the primary players among an ensemble cast who bring life to the struggling inhabitants of the city. These young, up-and-coming actors are joined by established talents such as Tilda Swinton, Amber Heard and Jonathan Majors, thereby impacting the brilliance of the movie.

The movie unfolds around the lives of three troubled teenage friends: Jesse (Plummer), Calvin (Harrison), and Nicky (Latimore). These three young men occupy the characters who have experienced a wretched past, a blighted present, and a future that looks exceptionally grim. They've found solace and companionship in each other midst the chaos. Their stories weave the fabric of "Gully," illustrating a grim panorama of marginalisation, trauma, violence and a powerful yearning for escape.

Kelvin Harrison Jr., known for his astute skills in embodying complex characters, plays Calvin with an incredible range of emotion and deep intensity. Jacob Latimore, as Nicky, imbues his character with great depth, embodied a sense of quiet desperation with standout moments of intensity. Charlie Plummer, who plays Jesse, gives a moving performance, highlighting the character's personal pain and struggle with mental health issues.

The film takes its title from the street slang for a rough, unforgiving neighbourhood, reflecting the grim reality the protagonists inhabit. Here, they navigate their days through the harrowing adversity they face from their fractured home lives to their constant struggle for survival on the street. The soundtrack pulsates with life, tempering moments of silence with music that reflects their shared angst and individual hopes.

"Gully" is a cinematic kaleidoscope of complex racial, social and economic problems against the backdrop of the presented urban decay. Its narrative is uncompromising, with the gritty script often echoing the themes surrounding poverty, the class system, and the harsh realities of growing up in a neglected urban environment. "Gully" dares to venture into the darker corners of human behaviour, revealing layers of disparity and trauma that society often shies away from acknowledging.

While the movie involves a disturbing and intricate portrayal of urban struggles, the director, Elderkin, brings his own unique flavour to the film - influenced by his music video background which includes working with musical legends like Kanye West and Frank Ocean. He uses "Gully" as a platform to showcase the transformative power of empathy and compassion amidst a society obsessed with violence and hatred. The raw emotions and shocking events presented in the film serve not to exploit or sensationalise the characters' situation but to raise viewers' consciousness about the harsh realities of life in neglected and impoverished urban landscapes.

Visually, "Gully" is a masterclass in establishing mood and setting. Every shot permeates with tension, amplifying the gritty backdrop of the city transforming it from mere scenery into a living, breathing character—stark, somber and yet achingly beautiful in its honesty. The cinematography is captivating and blends smoothly with the immersive soundtrack, providing a complete sensory experience that immerses the viewer into the rough world the characters inhabit.

In conclusion, "Gully" may not be a feel-good Hollywood spectacle, but it is undeniably a poignant portrayal of urban life and a riveting exploration of its underbelly. It set out to expose the unimaginable struggles faced by individuals living in areas that the society chooses to ignore, presenting an unwonted perspective of Los Angeles. A parlous journey of survival, friendship, and redemption, "Gully" compels audiences to question their understanding of empathy, resilience, and human spirit.

Intense, challenging, and often uncomfortably real, "Gully" is an ambitious and powerful film that will leave its audiences pondering long after the credits roll, urging the viewers to confront the unsettling complexities of the challenging world many individuals call home.