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Playing Away and Young Soul Rebels on DVD in October

6 October 2009

The BFI have announced the upcoming release of two British films to mark Black History Month, Horace Ové's 1987 Playing Away and Isaac Julien's 1991 Young Soul Rebels.

When a West Indian cricket team from Brixton is invited to play a charity game in a small English village, members of both teams have their reservations. A weekend in the country away from the inner city produces unexpected results both on and off the field of play.

From pioneering British filmmaker Horace Ové, (Pressure, Baldwin's Nigger), comes this comedy of manners with an outstanding array of British talent on display, including Ross Kemp (EastEnders) and Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly) at the start of their careers, and a poignant performance by the excellent Norman Beaton (Desmonds). Playing Away subtly explores and undermines white and black stereotypes and succeeds in linking two familiar but strange cultures through the simple device of a cricket match.

Playing Away is to be released on UK DVD on 26th October 2009 by the BFI at the RRP of £19.99. Featuring an uncompressed PCM audio soundtrack on all of the content and the following extras:

  • Horace Ové in conversation with Mike Phillips;
  • Illustrated booklet containing essays and credits.

In the long hot summer of 1977, London prepared for the Silver Jubilee celebrations to the sounds of the burgeoning punk, soul and funk scenes. Soul boys Chris (Valentine Nonyela) and Caz (Mo Sesay), a pair of pirate radio DJs, broadcast their show from a friend's garage, tussling with the local skinheads, and clubbing with Chris's sassy music-industry girlfriend Tracy (Sophie Okonedo). But social and sexual tensions in the community reach boiling point following the murder of a local black gay man.

With its soulful soundtrack – Funkadelic, X-Ray Spex, Parliament, Sylvester and more – and enthusiastic young cast, this first feature by the Turner Prize-nominated artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien and Cannes Critics' Week prize-winner is an engaging and sensitive drama.

Young Soul Rebels will be released on UK DVD on 26th October 2009 by the BFI at the RRP of £19.99 with the following extras:

  • Original trailer;
  • Illustrated colour booklet with newly commissioned preface by Isaac Julien, essay by author and historian Stephen Bourne, and extract from Diary of a Young Soul Rebel (BFI, 1991).