Young Soul Rebels

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Young Soul Rebels

R

1991

1h 45m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Music

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3 Reviews

52%

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100+ Ratings

Two disc jockeys (Valentine Nonyela, Mo Sesay) have a friend's murder to solve in the fringe-group melting pot of 1977 London.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Young Soul Rebels has a touch of the cartoonishness that often creeps into British cinema. But this film still has a life-giving pulse of energy.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 26, 2023

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

For all his prestigious accolades, [Isaac Julien's] sole narrative feature proves that he also knew--and presumably still knows--how to have a good time, even when telling a heartfelt story rooted in identity politics and intersectionality.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 12, 2024

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Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

The film picks apart class and racial dynamics of the time, but the most interesting bit is the level of acceptance and fluidity of the main characters.

Feb 2, 2022

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Audience Member

This movie was a hot mess, but the themes, aesthetic and soundtrack make it watchable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

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PridePosterStudios

Executed so poorly it just ended up being a bore, which is a shame.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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Audience Member

Nice idea poorly executed with some of the worst acting you’ll see this side of pantomime season. The courage to deal with some hitherto uncovered themes around sexuality, race, music culture and racism is to be applauded, but the soundtrack and the title are some of the best elements of this disappointing film. Naff, no grit.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/19

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Audience Member

Enthusiastic and sensitive, but what's missing is momentum, as the characters drift from scene to scene and the thriller plot elements are carefully set up, only to be ignored for long stretches.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

I saw this years and years ago, its a great film with a nice little window into the whole gay and bi scene from the 70's. I really enjoyed it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Really disappointed. Completely naff

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Isaac Julien

Director

Valentine Nonyela

Chris

Mo Sesay

Caz

Dorian Healy

Ken

Frances Barber

Ann

Sophie Okonedo

Tracy

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Synopsis

Two disc jockeys (Valentine Nonyela, Mo Sesay) have a friend's murder to solve in the fringe-group melting pot of 1977 London.

Director: Isaac Julien
Producer: Nadine Marsh-Edwards
Screenwriter: Paul Hallam, Derrick Saldaan McClintock, Isaac Julien
Distributor: Prestige
Production Co: Channel Four Films, Sankofa Film & Video, British Film Institute (BFI)
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Music
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 1991, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 17, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.8K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

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