Imran Perretta's 'Ish' has landed like a precision strike, hitting audiences and critics with its raw power and emotional resonance. This debut feature film is being hailed as a masterpiece, drawing comparisons to iconic coming-of-age dramas like Ken Loach's 'Kes' and Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy. And it's no wonder - Perretta has poured his own life experiences into the narrative, including the searing memory of a childhood stop-and-search incident that left him reeling.
The film is set against the vibrant backdrop of Luton, where 12-year-old Ishmail (Farhan Hasnat) and his best mate Maram (Yahya Kitana) are on the cusp of adulthood. But as they spend their summer holidays building dens and picking blackberries, Ish's world is turned upside down by the recent loss of his mother. Perretta masterfully captures the turmoil within this family - a delicate dance between grief, anger, and desperation.
For Perretta, 'Ish' is more than just a film - it's a deeply personal exploration of identity, trauma, and belonging. He revealed to us that his own experiences as a young Muslim boy in post-9/11 Britain inspired the narrative. The traumatic stop-and-search incident at age 13 was the moment he lost his innocence, politicising him and shaping his artistic practice - including 'Ish'.
It's a journey that took Perretta from architecture to art, with a few unexpected twists along the way. He received a £10,000 bursary for 'The Destructors', but never envisioned himself as a director. That was until Rose Garnett, then head of BBC Film, approached him to develop a film treatment after being blown away by his video installation.
Perretta co-wrote the screenplay with acclaimed Irish playwright and scriptwriter Enda Walsh, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Critics have praised 'Ish' for its poetic sensibility and its ability to transport viewers into Ish's world - a child's perspective that resonates deep within our souls.
While there's no word yet on streaming or broadcast details, one thing's certain: this film will be sought after by major platforms and broadcasters in the UK. Its themes of identity, trauma, and belonging offer a timely and important narrative that's both culturally specific and universally relatable - a true masterpiece of British cinema.