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- 2020
- ArtMattan Productions
- 1 h 38 m
- 2020
- ArtMattan Productions
- 1 h 38 m
Summary After a happy childhood in the countryside, a teenager moves to London, where he must navigate an unfamiliar environment on his road to adulthood.
Directed By: Shola Amoo
Written By: Shola Amoo
- 2020
- ArtMattan Productions
- 1 h 38 m
- 2020
- ArtMattan Productions
- 1 h 38 m
The Last Tree
67
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Where to Watch
Summary After a happy childhood in the countryside, a teenager moves to London, where he must navigate an unfamiliar environment on his road to adulthood.
Directed By: Shola Amoo
Written By: Shola Amoo
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
75% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
25% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
75% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
25% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
I don’t want to give too much away, but Amoo’s direction is strong, and his film moves in unexpected directions. Stil Williams’ cinematography is divine. Adewunmi and Ikumelo are excellent, and kudos to Pinnock, Tai Golding as young Femi, Denise Black as the foster mom, Demmy Ladipo as a gang leader and Ruthxjiah Bellenea as a potential love interest who shares Femi’s love for the Cure.
Akinola (best known to some for his work on Doctor Who) is clearly completely in tune with the director, getting under the skin of his story and striking just the right note of internalised anguish and ecstasy that defines this tender, heartfelt and clearly very personal movie.
While comparisons to Moonlight are not without merit, The Last Tree bucks the coming-of-age blueprint in new, specific ways.
The film feels at times like it is trying to take on too much — plotlines are rushed, relationships feel unearned or not explained. Still, I can’t help but be impressed by Amoo’s attempts to direct a familiar narrative with such a complicated set of questions.
Rich with technical strategies that enhance our view into Femi’s emotions, The Last Tree uses slow-motion, diffused sound, and many Spike Lee-like camera shots to make the story extremely personal and unique.
It’s a charismatic performance from Adewunmi, and Amoo’s camera often comes in close to his face and his gaze, suggesting that Femi is on the verge of some kind of epiphany or vision – and it’s nothing to do with the drugs.
The gap between storytelling and story is rarely as wide as in The Last Tree, a coming-of-age drama that is rapturously shot and dramatically trite.
User Reviews
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Production Company
Prodigal Film & TV,
Privateer Pictures,
British Film Institute (BFI)
Release Date Jun 26, 2020
Duration 1 h 38 m
Genres
Awards
British Independent Film Awards
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
National Film Awards, UK
• 4 Nominations
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
