Common Features Of Youth Culture Films

• Almost all modern Youth Culture Films are set in the streets or on an estate, usually set in London (such as Hackney in My Brother The Devil).
• One generic youth culture idea is that the characters are trying to get out of the 'hood' and of the streets and into a better life. The movie usually portrays their hardships and struggles to get themselves a better life. Common catalysts for escape are music or education or a reality trip (usually through prison, such as in Adulthood).
• Another common convention is to have a gang war (such as in My Brother The Devil) between two main character's gangs. There is usually violence and crime involved, and often drug or weapons dealing.
• Prison is often a major part of a youth culture film, with characters often just coming out of prison as the movie starts, and trying to sort themselves a new life. For example in Adulthood, when the main character comes out of prison, he tries to set himself up a new life. However problems from the past begin to come up and he finds it hard to get out of the gang scene.
• Main characters are often from an underprivileged background with a dysfunctional family, often with a single parent.
• However, family is often a big part of youth culture. For example in My Brother The Devil, the main character is trying to help is little brother get out of the gang scene before he gets into it.
• Main characters are often trying to struggle for an identity.
• Sometimes gangs are represented as safety or a family, such as in This Is England, where the bullied kid gets involved in a gang for safety and friendship.