Bypass (2014)

Only too often depictions of working class life is questionable at best but with Bypass, director Hopkins has made a perfectly crafted realistic drama that tackles the Shakesperiean theme of the sins of the father and shines a light on a version of Britain we rarely see film. While not everything works, the tension built up throughout is lost as the film comes to it's conclusion, the film's performances and beautifully gritty cinematography, which has the impressive ability to make the greyest areas of the north look attractive, creates a visually poetic depiction of living on the breadline that needs a wider release to demonstrate the power of independent cinema.

An incredibly fluid narrative which powerfully portrays the on-going confusion and despair faced on a daily basis by the central character. Whilst the people out to get him continually change, his living in perpetual fear and anxiety doesn't. The radical approach to the storytelling feels exciting and original, adding a very believable, claustrophobic feel to a life lived in a grim reality. There is nothing Tim can do and nowhere he can go to change his situation because, like the audience, at no point does he have the whole picture. Instead he has to deal with everything that is thrown at him without any support or understanding. The performances are excellent and the film is a devastating watch.

This film is much more than a simple depiction of a criminal underworld. What it does very effectively (particularly George MacKay as Tim) is convey the emotions one might feel when in a position of weakness and faced with apparently insurmountable controlling forces, to be constantly "up against it", and the impact this has. The film is necessarily bleak, but is punctuated with occasional slightly more light-hearted moments, such as an affectionate exchange between Tim and his sister, and excitement such as the brilliantly filmed car chase. The shots of Tim, his girlfriend Lilly and their new-born baby towards the end of the film are hopeful and visually appealing. Overall I found this film engaging and insightful.

Is morality a luxury? Bypass provides the platform to reflect upon this. It's a film that at the moment may only be liked if the 'in crowd' say it's cool. It is cool. It's one of those films that in twenty years time film tutors will automatically suggest their more insightful students watch but why wait? It not only washes the viewer into its own world beautifully by its striking cinematography and sound score that slow dive may gleefully dive towards but more importantly it enables its viewer to think. It enables its viewer to ask why. It enables and instigates its viewer to empathize, really empathize, not feel moved then ten minutes out of the cinema lose the feeling and never remember why. Maybe that's too easy, maybe that's what society wants now, quick bursts of highs and lows with no consequence. Every action, even no action brings reaction. The question is, why aren't we pulling over and is morality a luxury? Personally I thought this film was one of the most important I've had the luxury of seeing for quite some time.