Mischief Night (2006)

Mischief Night: Directed by Penny Woolcock. With Kelli Hollis, James Foster, Michael Taylor, Holly Kenny. About two families (one white, one Asian) who come together unexpectedly on a local night of carnival trickery and festivity.

“Pushed somewhat as being the u0026#39;newu0026#39; East Is East and from the producers of u0026#39;Shamelessu0026#39;, the scatological Manchester-set socio-comic series on Channel 4, director Penny Woolcocku0026#39;s u0026#39;Mischief Nightu0026#39; celebrates the racial (dis)harmonies of a Leeds estate, between a Pakistani family and a white one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStarting breezily, giddily even, with laugh-out-loud capers as our characters are introduced by the endearing, if down-to-earth – and often, very earthy – mother of the white family, played by an impressive and natural Kelli Hollis, we are lead on an enjoyable journey of the lighter – and darker – side of living on the dole in the noughties.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor pretty well the entire movie, the positive aspects of chaotic lives are highlighted and most of the outdoor scenes feature bright, yellow sunshine, the negative ones dealt with a knowing comic overtone, which could be argued does not portray real life but first you have to get people to watch your film, not run a dour documentary, the like of which we could endure on BBC2 almost anytime. Many scenes about drugs reminded me of another favourite film of mine, the u0026#39;Welsh Trainspottingu0026#39; u0026quot;Twin Townu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyway, the story basically covers a week leading up to the Mischief Night, a big excuse for trick and treating , but with pyrotechnics and, oh, yes, a hot-air balloon!, which is at Halloween, though with school kids without coats, or blazers, points at filming being in the summer, but who cares? Kelli Hollisu0026#39; character, whose partner/husband/boyfriend (lucky dip choice!) has done a runner (again) and sheu0026#39;s now got her beady and lustful eye on Asian hunk Ramon Tikarum.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMischief Night can be enjoyed when (Iu0026#39;m sure!) suitably imbibed yourself with friends as it can be on your own as that bright and breezy socio- comedy I mentioned. Thereu0026#39;s also enough going on, with both visual and written puns for a repeated viewing (or two!)”