Years ago while growing up in Jamaica, D (Aml Ameen) witnessed his brother’s murder, before being taking in by a don. Years later, having been sent on a mission to London, the past catches up with him.
What a beautiful directorial debut from Edris Elba, an amazing job well done! I just left the screening room and I can not stop thinking about this film. There are so many beautiful, powerful and shocking moments but it is also emotional, suspenseful and thoughtful.
“Yardie” is based on the novel of the same name by Victor Headley, which takes place in both Jamaica and London during the 1970s and ’80s. D (Aml Ameen) just 13-years-old, watches his older brother Jerry (Everaldo Creary) get killed at a music peace gathering he organized to help bring an end to gang violence. D witnesses the killer, a young kid named Clancy (Riaze Foster). Following the death, an ex-gang member named King Fox (Sheldon Shepard) takes D under his wing. After 10 years of not being able to let go of his brother’s murder and wanting to constantly seek revenge, King Fox decides to send D away to England to keep him out of trouble but this is when the real trouble begins after he orders him to deliver a drug package to Rico (Stephen Graham).
In England for less than five hours, D manages to get into an altercation with Rico and decides not to deliver the package and now has his people after him. D goes to the only person he knows there who is Yvonne (Shantol Jackson) his childhood sweetheart with whom he has a child named Vanessa (Myla-Rae Hutchinson-Dunwell) who he hasn’t seen in four years. Through his journey, D now motivated by coming face to face with his brother’s killer, settling his debt with King Fox and Rico finally ends the inner struggle with the truth.
I loved the direction of this story. I appreciated the way in which you are guided through every detail of the characters, who they are, and how they are connected. The cast is one of the most beautifully cohesive that I’ve seen in a long time. Each individual story is important and valued. I loved the gradual maturity of D’s character with help from some of the supporting roles like Sticks (Calvin Demba), a kid who initially tries to rob him and ends up becoming an ally and bringing the truth about his brother to light. Yvonne motivates him in seeing who he really is as a man, brother, and father and who he could be. I love how the story is done through the undercurrent of music and what an important role it plays in the film. Speaking of music, the soundtrack is incredible. Definitely, a must-see film!
In theaters March 15th
