Cinema listings with film information and movie reviews
Black
Shakespeare's star-crossed romance Romeo & Juliet provides some of the inspiration for Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah's gritty Belgian drama, about two young people who fall deliriously in love despite the bad blood that flows between their rival factions. As a result of increased numbers of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe, Brussels is in the grip of teenage gangs who assert their authority using violence and intimidation. A group of young Moroccans led by Nassim (Soufiane Chilah), who call themselves the 1080s, are one pernicious scourge. They steal purses and other valuables from unsuspecting victims then attempt to outrun the police on the bustling city streets. When authorities eventually outwit the 1080s, Nassim takes the rap, leaving his inexperienced and naive younger brother, Marwan (Aboubakr Bensaihi), in charge. The newly anointed leader of the 1080s has a crush on 15-year-old Mavela (Martha Canga Antonio), who is part of a rival gang of Africans calling themselves the Black Bronx. She returns his advances and Marwen and Mavela fan the flames of their burgeoning romance, blind to the consequences of openly fraternising with the enemy.
