'London to Brighton' - Aspects of crime

Narrative methods
The story begins with the present - Kelly and Joanne bursting into a rundown toilet and deciding that they need to escape to Brighton. But what are they escaping from? This all made clear when flashbacks are used, showing why they needed to escape. This formula continues as they arrive in Brighton and as Derek and Chum turn up, and I find it is a winning formula. Questions constantly come, but they are answered.

Representation of poverty
Poverty is what essentially, I find, kicks off the trauma-infected events of the story. Joanne is found begging on the streets of London and it is Kelly who decides to take her to a nearby restaurant for food. It is Joanne, a young, homeless girl, that is wanted for Duncan Allen's sick schematics (to have sex with her) and in the event of her escaping with Kelly and killing him that leads on to have devastating consequences.

Representation of family relationships
It is revealed that Joanne's mother is dead and that her farther abused her, the latter of which being her reason for leaving home and heading for the streets. She says that there is nothing for her at home, which suggest pure hatred for her farther. Abuse can be a reason for many young children running away from home and face trouble on the streets, which is represented in the character of Joanne.

Representation of class
A mixture of class is displayed in this film. Kelly and Derek both come across as low-class - Kelly because she is a prostitute and it is her way of getting money throughout the film and Derek because he is a pimp, which gives his connection to Kelly. Joanne's class is somewhat mysterious - we see nothing of her home with family until she meets her grandmother at the end of the film. At an ever so brief glance, I would think that Joanne is somewhat middle-class at least. Duncan Allen represents the high gang class. This is seen clearly as he is accompanied by henchmen and appears in locations like strip clubs and wears a suit.


Representation of violence
Violence is the driving force behind the story. the film begins and ends with violent reflections, the beginning being Kelly's swollen face, which is a clear sign that she has been abused, and the ending of Derek and Chum being shot which suggest violence must be dealt with by more violence.


Representation of crime
12-year-old Joanne admits to stabbing Duncan's farther, Stuart, and as payback has Chum and Derek both shot dead, the latter of which Stuart makes Joanne pull the trigger for. Crime is dealt for with more crime, but I think this was not the method of Duncan's vengeance plan. I think that he felt really bad for finding his farther dead, so he wanted to make Joanne feel as bad as he did, and the best way to do this was to try and make her commit another crime. However, I found the shooting of Derek and Chum to be quite unexpected, but this could have been part of Duncan's method - someone has to pay, and it is the unexpected that do.