Broken Song – Film Review
Director: Claire Dix
Starring: Willa Lee, James Costello, GI and Dean Scurry
Release Date: Nov 15 (selected cinemas only)
Unpredictable business, the realm of documentary making. Pending on your chosen subject, ambivalence rules whether the footage you want jammed in the cam will end up angelic or plush CCTV. A documentary thrives or dies pending where it decides to fling the aim of its lens.
Broken Song documents a collective of north side Dublin hip hop and rap musicians. Following their exploits, the wretched conditions they’ve sprouted from and how their music provides salvation from their depraved backdrops. The main subjects, James Costello and Willa Lee are trailed.
Brownie points are deserved for the film’s gloriously glazed monochrome visuals. The monochrome gives a nice sense of unreality, making all that is bleak and grotesque a handsome sheen. While the film be superficially monochrome, unfortunately so is its spirit. Beyond filtering rap through the jagged harshness of a north side larynx (no rare thing) there’s little that is unique to justify Costello as a creative force to be reckoned with.
Principally the basic message he articulates has been said as far back as the early Public Enemy days, more importantly it’s been articulated better within the rap/hip hop pantheon. However voicing the great social inequalities is still honourable and at very least Costello deserves some kudos.
While the unique factor is sorely lacking, Willa Lee suffers a similar glitch. His voice, certainly soothing to the ear but far too reminiscent of another Irish hippidy hop chap: Maverick Sabre.
Subject wise, Lee isn’t the cuddliest of creatures. Chronicled is his ongoing court case for fracturing an individual’s skull, consequently causing his victim to lose his sense of smell and taste. Willa’s story is the most attention anchoring but the man himself is no sympathy magnet.
One may find it an infuriating viewing experience watching Lee repeatedly be offered lifelines and patience only for it to be predictably squandered. A banal kitchen sink version of Groundhog minus the Bill Murray redemption.
A problem I have with a majority of rap music (of course there are majestic exceptions) is that its subject matter has limited horizons with all its jive about ghettos, gangs, drug cartels and the hard knock life. Usually the classic rap cookie cutter persona is that:
(a) you must be from a disadvantaged background,
b) be a street savvy sage,
(c) consistently be brushing against the law and
(d) uniformed in hoodie attire. The cast of characters here tick all the clichés. And for that, they’re all the less interesting for it.
Despite the usual critical moaning, the film has redemptive streaks. The film’s highlight being the ethereal opening, doused in evocative slow-mo atmosphere. It’s not a million miles from what made the opener to Melancholia great. Other ace scenes include Costello working on the creative mechanics to his song.
Overall I was surprised when I saw the digits of the film’s runtime at 66mins as the whole experience felt that I was at least there for two hours. The numbers don’t add up.
For those interested in Ireland’s hip hop/rap scene, a far more interesting, informative and entertaining documentary exists: RTE’s Reality Bytes series simply titled “Ireland’s Rappers”. If you can find it, watch it instead.
As subject material, if there’s a gay, wimpy, square, camp as Christmas rapper roaming the Dublin streets, could someone aim their lens towards them in an orderly fashion?
There’s certainly more fresh material to be conquered there.
Score: 3/5
Written by Dylan Delaney
