Carl (Obi Abili) has become an actor for an East London company for the homeless. During a night out with his mates, he meets Meredith (Eleanor McLoughlin) a young woman who got lost and is asking for directions. Carl and Meredith get along just well, and become romantically involved after a while. However, both lovers come from different worlds; Meredith is Wealthy and Carl is homeless, only Meredith doesn't know. As their relationship deepens so does the complications; at some point Meredith gets hold of two tickets for a play, put upon by an East London theater company that employs homeless people, and she plans to bring Carl along with her to see the play. Yes, Carl is mean to perform at that same play as well.
FORGOTTEN MAN is a fantastic, contemporary look at life in London, at a classicist city where the breach widens more and more every day. Carl is truly the forgotten man, forgotten by society, left in the streets to fend for himself, until a theater company gives him the chance to escape that life by pretending to be someone else. Unfortunately Carl has to become an actor outside of the stage as well when he's with Meredith, he's in the role of a lifetime. He has to constantly play the part or risk to reveal himself to Meredith, he must forget himself as well.
What an amazing film this is; from the crisp black and white cinematography to the composition shots of East London that are half natural and half the eye of the director framing East London with both love and disdain. Writer/Director Arran Shearing creates a vision of the city that is modern and classic at the same time. His love story with a class breach becomes fresh by talking about today's London. Yes, there's always a love story like this, but this is now, for the world we live in today. Obi Abili is an outstanding find, the man fills the screen with presence and Eleanor McLoughlin is beyond naturalistic as Meredith, so much so that one would believe she was being filmed without her knowledge.
FORGOTTEN MAN is a jewel and we recommend it heartily.
Review Written By Enrrico Wood Lagonigro - Senior Curator Oaxaca FilmFest.
FORGOTTEN MAN is a fantastic, contemporary look at life in London, at a classicist city where the breach widens more and more every day. Carl is truly the forgotten man, forgotten by society, left in the streets to fend for himself, until a theater company gives him the chance to escape that life by pretending to be someone else. Unfortunately Carl has to become an actor outside of the stage as well when he's with Meredith, he's in the role of a lifetime. He has to constantly play the part or risk to reveal himself to Meredith, he must forget himself as well.
What an amazing film this is; from the crisp black and white cinematography to the composition shots of East London that are half natural and half the eye of the director framing East London with both love and disdain. Writer/Director Arran Shearing creates a vision of the city that is modern and classic at the same time. His love story with a class breach becomes fresh by talking about today's London. Yes, there's always a love story like this, but this is now, for the world we live in today. Obi Abili is an outstanding find, the man fills the screen with presence and Eleanor McLoughlin is beyond naturalistic as Meredith, so much so that one would believe she was being filmed without her knowledge.
FORGOTTEN MAN is a jewel and we recommend it heartily.
Review Written By Enrrico Wood Lagonigro - Senior Curator Oaxaca FilmFest.
