The Last Tree

This film, told through the eyes of a black child/teen who grows up in the UK, is a gem. 1) a film exploring any subject from a non-white perspective feels relieving to say the least. 2) the way this film follows the intricacies of a single mother, but especially one from a completely different culture, really explores issues rarely touched on but common. 3) showing how Femi, the boy/teen has to delve through both cultures to gain an understanding of his mother, childhood and current self is exhilarating. The director did a fabulous job not wrapping up complex subjects in a pretty pink bow. Bravo!

Uplifting movie proving that growing up, whatever culture, especially amid violence and drugs, is never easy. Too many youngsters get lost, even when given love and attention. You can only guess and hope that a few make it, and find their purpose.

Yes it's slow, in the sense of no big explosions or high drama, but it keeps it's footing and draws you into the deeper story. A story of a young boy growing into a man and the trials and tribulations he goes through to get there. He starts off in an idyllic countryside setting, lots of friends, lots of fun outdoors, a loving Mother figure helping him learn right from wrong. His birth Mother comes to visit him and tells his foster Mother that she is working hard to get a place for herself and her son. This hits the Foster Mother hard, she loves the boy she has raised thus far and his real Mother is mostly unknown to him. His Mother comes to bring him to London, into a whole new world of strange food, strange home (with extra responsibilities), and no friends. It's the story of him trying to navigate drug dealers, bullies, and bad influences to come out with his self respect intact. I loved it. It's not for everyone maybe, but it was awesome to me. Very heartfelt and uplifting. It's a hard world he is thrown into, and don't we all know it!

This was such a fantastic film. The score and cinematography tied in beautifully with the story and Sam Adewunmi's acting was phenomenal. Still, the sound mixing struggled in places and some shots seemed forced in unnecessarily.

The beginning hits you like a sledge hammer when Semi is wrenched from a childhood rural ideal into an apparent urban hell from a kind foster parent to a mother who beats him. But by the end you find yourself questioning all this and you wonder whether despite the hardship he was actually better off for it? As you learn more about the circumstances that brought him their your view transforms. I think this was brilliantly done. It is beautifully filmed and the dialogue is sparse but authentic and powerful. Great acting too.Wonderful film.