Pushed somewhat as being the 'new' East Is East and from the producers of 'Shameless', the scatological Manchester-set socio-comic series on Channel 4, director Penny Woolcock's 'Mischief Night' celebrates the racial (dis)harmonies of a Leeds estate, between a Pakistani family and a white one.
Starting breezily, giddily even, with laugh-out-loud capers as our characters are introduced by the endearing, if down-to-earth - and often, very earthy - mother of the white family, played by an impressive and natural Kelli Hollis, we are lead on an enjoyable journey of the lighter - and darker - side of living on the dole in the noughties.
For pretty well the entire movie, the positive aspects of chaotic lives are highlighted and most of the outdoor scenes feature bright, yellow sunshine, the negative ones dealt with a knowing comic overtone, which could be argued does not portray real life but first you have to get people to watch your film, not run a dour documentary, the like of which we could endure on BBC2 almost anytime. Many scenes about drugs reminded me of another favourite film of mine, the 'Welsh Trainspotting' "Twin Town".
Anyway, the story basically covers a week leading up to the Mischief Night, a big excuse for trick and treating , but with pyrotechnics and, oh, yes, a hot-air balloon!, which is at Halloween, though with school kids without coats, or blazers, points at filming being in the summer, but who cares? Kelli Hollis' character, whose partner/husband/boyfriend (lucky dip choice!) has done a runner (again) and she's now got her beady and lustful eye on Asian hunk Ramon Tikarum.
Mischief Night can be enjoyed when (I'm sure!) suitably imbibed yourself with friends as it can be on your own as that bright and breezy socio- comedy I mentioned. There's also enough going on, with both visual and written puns for a repeated viewing (or two!)
