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Director Finds Authentic Stars in Local Youth
2 Aug
Summary
- First-time actors were discovered by visiting schools and youth clubs.
- The film follows two 12-year-old friends from Luton's diverse communities.
- The movie received positive reviews, hailed as 'movie of the year'.
Imran Perretta's debut film, Ish, showcases a cast of first-time young actors discovered through an extensive eight-month outreach program. Perretta visited schools, youth clubs, sports clubs, and community centers across Bedfordshire to find talent, aiming for authenticity in his portrayal of Luton.
The film centers on the disrupted relationship between two 12-year-old friends from the town's South Asian and Middle Eastern communities, following an incident involving a police stop and search. Perretta emphasized the importance of local people portraying local life, stating his desire for the film to be a 'portrait of Luton'.
Since its release on Friday, Ish has garnered significant critical acclaim. Reviewers have lauded the film, with The Guardian describing it as 'the British debut movie of the year' and critic Mark Kermode naming it 'one of my favourite films of the year'.
