By Topher Campbell

At last a British Black Gay Film. One that has two strong leads and sense of realism. Raymond/Rag and Tagbo/Tag have a friendship that has endured over many years of separation. As twelve year olds they enjoyed an intimacy that many adults would find threatening.

As young men, despite the disapproval of Tag's religiously driven father, racism, the distractions of troubled heterosexual relationships and shady dealings in Nigeria, Rag and Tag are forced to face the inevitable. Their love is full of promise and truth but neither of them is sure how to embrace it. Set in a London that is totally believable Rag Tag has an edge that echoes Stephen Frears' My Beautiful Launderette.

As a bonus it is also set in Lagos, which adds a cultural dynamic rarely explored: namely the relationship between British Nigerian and West Indian communities. The film introduces its themes and ideas without banner waving. The two leads are believable and watchable and supported by a strong cast. It's a story that has a slow burn but one worth persevering with, because by the end, the sum of its parts makes this film amount to a touching life affirming love story.

It also boasts some very good looking black guys and the first British Black Gay screen kiss since Isaac Julien's Passion of Remembrance. In Adaora Nwandu the UK has a brave and ambitious feature director with a rich imagination. This is her debut and proves that she is definitely one to watch.

 

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Raymond and Tagbo met when they were eight. Although from radically different worlds - Raymond (Rag) is from a single-parent West Indian home, while Tagbo (Tag) is the only son of middle-class Nigerian parents - they remain inseparable until the beginning of their teens when Social Services take Rag away from London. Ten years later, Rag returns to find Tag.

They still want to be together. But now 23, their need has shifted into something more urgent and consuming. Other things have changed too. Tag is just finishing law school and discovering how hard it is to find a position. Tag also has a white girlfriend, and since her impressive credentials aren't even good enough for Tag's father, Rag doesn't stand a chance.

Rag sees even less room for himself in Tag's life when Tag's friend Olisa flies into London. Young, rich and shady, Rag knows Olisa is trouble. When Rag and Tag are invited to Nigeria for Olisa's chieftaincy ceremony, Rag is determined to save Tag from his machinations. In this tale of family, friendship and love, everyone has to discover a definition of what these things mean to them. Then stake their future on it.

Format: Digital Year of production: 2005
Running time: 100 mins
Director: Adaora Nwandu
Producer: Uzoamaka Nwandu
Editor: Keith Wilson
Screenwriter: Adaora Nwandu
Directors of Photography: Kalilah Robinson, Segun Oladimeji
Sound: Heather Andrews
Music: Richard Evans
Principal Cast: Danny Parsons, Adedamola Adelaja, Tamsin Clarke, Geoffrey Aymer, I. K. Akwari

Production Company: Muka Flicks Ltd 10 Central Mansions Watford Way
London NW4 3AB, England

Telephone +44 (0)20 8203 9565

muka.flicks@virgin.net http://www.ragtagmovie.com/