Rip It Up: Young Soul Rebels

BBFC RatingRip It Up: Young Soul Rebels

Showing: 24 July 2026

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Fri 24 Jul 2026

Certificate15
Year1991
GenreDrama, Thriller
Director(s)Isaac Julien
Writer(s)Paul Hallam, Derrick Saldaan McClintock, Isaac Julien
LanguageEnglish
CountryUK, France, Germany, Spain
Running Time1HR 44MINS
Season Rip It Up
Audio AccessibleClosed CaptioningThis screening will feature descriptive subtitles

Youth culture meets identity politics in this part-thriller, part-gay love story set in London in 1977. The hedonistic world of pirate DJs Chris and Caz is shattered when a close friend is killed. 4K restored.

We follow two young best friends Chris (Valentine Nonyela) and Caz (Mo Sesay) running an underground soul radio station in the heart of the violent, tumultuous 1970s East London.

Chris and Caz’s altercations with the law; and experience of living amongst punks, skinheads and soul boys is examined with a colourful lens. Capturing the vibrancy and rebellion of music, the film contains a rare depiction of queer inner-city youth in the 1970s.

This beautifully crafted period piece, a bold and stylish debut feature from Isaac Julien, paints a unique perspective of Black British masculinity.

Rip It Up is a UK-wide season, supported by BFI National Lottery funding, exploring and celebrating the changing face of youth rebellion, culture and expression on screen in the UK.

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