Bullet Boy

'Bullet Boy', directed by Saul Dibb (2004) is another British film about Ricky, who has just been released from jail and is trying to build a better life for himself. However, with his current surroundings this is more or less impossible. His only choice is to get away.

Representation of race or minority groups
All the characters in the film are African-English actors. Ricky's mother is strictly religious and her boyfriend is a priest. This could be a way for her to keep her children protected - maybe praying gives her hope that they will be good and honest men when they grow up. The African-English race is portrayed in two ways in this film - they are either gospel church goers, or armed fighters in gangs who shoot people. There is a scene in the film where Ricky in looking out off his balcony in their flat and looking at Canary Warf. This shows a huge contrast between the life he has and the life of the people in the heart of London. It shows his deprivation, and also shows him as being almost an outcast as he is seperated from the wealth of the city.

Representation of crime
It is clear that crime is a dominant theme in this film right from the very beginning, as we first see Ricky (who is only 18) coming out of jail, and being given a probation order.

Representation of family relationships
Ricky appears to be very close to his 12-year-old brother Curtis, who is first seen skipping school and hiding in the boot of Wisdom's car in order to see him when he is released from jail. This suggests he has missed him and is eager to see him. Wisdom gives Ricky a gun, which plays an important role in the family dynamic. Curtis finds it in Ricky's top drawer and takes it out to play with his friend (who he accidently kills). Ricky gets very angry at him - but this I think its only because he doesn't want Curtis to end up like he did - assulting people and ending up in jail.

Representation of violence
Due to him being in prison because of an assult charge, Ricky is given a probation order on his release. He is desperate to avoid anything that might get him into trouble, which is why he drags Wisdom away from a heated confrontation with their rival gang when they smash his wing mirror off. He even goes to one of their rivals house and calls a truce to make things better, but Wisdom seems to want to keep fighting - this is why Ricky parts from him in the end to try and make a clean break somewhere else.

Representation of education
Curtis seems to hate school, he doesn't even turn up some days - like when he went to greet Ricky at prison. When we do see him in school, he is late and chats to his friend instead of listening to the teacher. However, Rickys background of education is unknown. When Curtis is looking at his CV, he says how it will be hard for Ricky to find a job with a criminal record. Maybe the reason he has a criminal record is because of the lack of opportunity he had to get a job, and the reason for his crimes is due to a lack of education. Curtis's attitude towards school suggests he may go down the same path as his brother, who he idolises.

Representation of class
I don't think the class of Ricky's family is a low as Liam's in 'Sweet Sixteen', however I still think they belong to a lower/middle-working class family. They live in a quite small West London flat, but it doesn't appear to be to run down or shabby. Ricky and Curtis share a realatively small bedroom, which again doesn't look too bad. We know his mother works somewhere (I don't remember where) and her partner is a priest. However, we're still unaware of their income. The spacious living room connotes comfort.