Film Review: The Hard Stop

 

Compelling, if distractingly unbalanced, George Amponsah’s The Hard Stop makes a solid effort at exploring the cultural context of the Mark Duggan shooting and subsequent London Riots in the Summer of 2011. Examining the events from the perspectives of two of Duggan’s friends, both men who were at the heart of the riots, the film is timely in looking at the continuing levels of mistrust, anger and hatred between groups of London residents and the police.

Marcus, who spent time in prison for his role in the riots, and Kurtis, a self-styled former “young entrepreneur” who made up to £500 a day selling drugs and now looks for regular employment, both make compelling, honest and sincere subjects. Their mistrust of authority, particularly the police force, is the spinal conflict running through everything we see. They are seeking justice for their slain friend Duggan (who was shot twice by police, with initial reports that he had a firearm proved untrue), fighting the “power-tripping” guards in prison and scream with rage at the guard responsible for their confiscated dog.

While their resentments for the police are deep seated and explosive, Amponsah fails to really look at their justification for being so with any semblance of objectivity. He’s clearly on their side, which, although offers no problems morally for a filmmaker, makes it far less compelling for the viewer.  Only on one occasion does he ask Marcus whether he would think the police were justified in killing Duggan if he did in fact have a gun, where the aggressiveness of his reply offers a decent enough reason for Amponsah not to push the subject further.

Though it is wholly unbalanced, there is something in Amponsah’s commitment to his subject matter that is compelling. He captures the anger felt by the community, the sense of struggle and hopelessness in the face of a corrupt system constantly working to keep them down in revenge for the killing of PC Blakelock in the Broadwater Farm Riots in 1985. Perhaps the two men are too directly linked to the subject matter for any sort of balance or alternative view to be possible.

The Duggan shooting, and following social unrest was one of the most disturbing and fascinating sections of recent British history, and the events are worthy of an incredible documentary.  Although this isn’t it, The Hard Stop is still a beautifully shot, raw and hugely emotive piece of documentary filmmaking. 

The Hard Stop is currently showing at Broadway Cinema.