Gone Too Far Trip

1. Read this short Guardian review about the film.

2. Read this Time Out review of the film.

3. Read the Into Film Festival guide to 'Gone Too Far' that contains some general info and a few questions ('Discussion points') for you to think about and answer on your blog.

4. Read the Into Film Festival review writing competition details, especially the Top Tips PDF.

5. Carry out some additional research if necessary - the IMDB website about the film is a good place to start - and then write your own original 300 word review of the film. Post up the review on your blog, then copy it out by hand onto the competition entry form which you'll receive in your lesson. 

“Gone too Far” is a comedy by British writer Destiny Ekaragha who adapted the movie from her popular play. Changing her script for the play into a movie. The movie follows the story of British Born Yemi whose Nigeran Born brother comes back from abroad embracive of the nigeran culture that Yemi tries so hard to hide. The powerful movie brings forth the troubles of identity especially for those young people who find themselves fitting into new cultures whilst forgetting their roots. A brilliant expression with a unique protagonist that subverts the predominant stereotypes of young black boys and comes forth as a funny, sweet and curious young teenage boy making it rather easy to identify with.  
Running from his quirky mum and foreign brother Yemi tries to chase the princess of his dreams, Armani, a mixed-race girl who only gives poor Yemi attention to make her obsessive love struck ex jealous. The narrative has many open windows to create jokey scenes but also allow for many thought provoking conversations to take place engaging the audience in a stable and consistent manner through light laughs and reflective attitudes of minority group teenagers. 
A viewer who can appreciate dialogue, a light laugh and a simple narrative would surely love this comedy, one to watch especially if you are familiar with the compact minority communities in London, a diversity that allows for many opportunities but also a strange illusion of identity. 

A feel-good comedy with African humour that everyone can understand and appreciate, told by a director who has first-hand experience with the story line of the movie and familiarity with the culture she is presenting with a strong message to end with. 

6. Write your own 500 word argument on your blog either for or against the debate proposition: "This house believes that films featuring ethnic minorities should only be produced by those who have the ethnic identity being represented."

If I had to pick a side of the debate I would say I agree with the statement that “that films featuring ethnic minorities should only be produced by those who have the ethnic identity being represented,” much more than I disagree with it. One of the main reason is due to the current production of movies regarding minority groups with inaccurate and limiting roles for minority group actors and roles. The current media industry has many film makers that try to create a representation of minority groups and still get away with a negative and false representation due to their name and audience willingness to just blindly accept that is the type of representation, if any, they will receive. The main reason for this is a lack of understanding of both the culture and implications of the representation, empathy and first-hand experience of those of that minority group. These factors would be limited as people representation their own ethnic minorities would have first-hand experience of their own cultures and lives therefore provide a much more emotive and reliable account and representation as well as be more likely to give roles to their minority group actors opening up opportunities for that sector too. This emotive take would not only provide for a realistic representation and a positive one but also make for a much more passionate production which would make it more likely other ethnic groups would be able to identify with that protagonist. Film making is an art, and art is best expressed by the artist who has experienced it themselves.

Many would argue that you can create an accurate positive representation and have empathy with these minority groups and therefore should be allowed to present them in their movies. I do agree that they may have empathy with that particular ethnic minority but I believe that empathy and understanding are two very different things. No matter how much you try to put yourself in another’s shoes you will never be able to fully grasp an experience until you experience it yourself. You might emphasis with the racist behaviour in regards to skin colour but you won’t be able to fully see it and feel it as the victim does – that’s why the police question the victim and not only the bystanders because no one will have the same insight as the victim themselves. Moreover no one ever fully gives away the full story to people face to face especially with sensitive and complicated issues like race and ethnicity. In terms of research, research is easily flawed with basic flaws in methodology of the research so can never be 100% valid and reliable thus cannot ever provide a director with the 100% of information they need.

Ethnicity is a complex matter with many variables, factors and small quirks that others may not notice but for the individual themselves would understand in a natural way and would be almost second nature to them.