Romance against racism

This British film, which deals with racism on both sides of the fence, is, at least, daring. The often improvised dialogue seems pretty truthful and it is well acted by its young cast.

Unfortunately, the story is so schematic that you constantly feel it is manufactured rather than springing naturally from its circumstances.

Consider the plot. A racist young man (Tom Hudson) working in a decorator's shop professes to hate "Pakis", then falls for the pretty Muslim girl (Samina Awan) who joins the firm.

Meanwhile, the girl's elder brother (Was Zakir) bullies her for even associating with whites, then picks up the tarty (and white) Michelle (Nichola Burley).

Not being entirely a hypocrite, he falls for her. So there's trouble in two families and seemingly no way out.

The story is told with some force by first-time feature director Dominic Savage and Barry Ackroyd's cinematography in an unspecified Midlands town lends atmosphere.

But you can't help thinking that Savage is ticking off his points about the racial divide one by one. Even at its most obvious, though, the film is palpably sincere and worth seeing.

Love + Hate
Cert: 15