Before George Lucas was George Lucas, he directed American Graffiti, a bitter-sweet tale of teenagers partying like it was their last chance at freedom and joy, conscious of the strictures of impending adult responsibility, and wrestling with the social expectations that would shape it.
Straight Through Crew is a similar affair, but its starting point is when the characters have already tasted their first few years of grown-up life, perhaps a nod to how the goalposts of real adulthood have shifted to later in life for this generation.
Jessica Pearce plays Jamie, the somewhat prodigal daughter of her peer group who returns to her home town out of the blue, and to the friends to whom she was once close. We soon learn this will inevitably lead her to an encounter with her ex-boyfriend Aden (Charles Craddock) who decided not to move to London with her, his whole life being that group of friends, that routine and that town.
As news filters through of her arrival, we see the confronting nature of the pain it evokes in Aden, who still buries the pain of the break-up through regular intoxication, sometimes of the less-than-legal and less-than-safe variety.
When his relationship with Jamie reignites, and she nevertheless disabuses him of the notion she is back for good, his is the most excruciating dilemma – friends vs love, safety vs adventure. The film does a great job of showing us that it’s not that easy a choice, especially through the very particular banter he has with his mates. There is a history there that cannot be easily discarded.
In fact, Aden is the most vulnerable character – so in denial of how completely in love with Jamie he is that he becomes willing to take his most serious risks – not just with his drug-taking but the company he keeps, a deal with the devil he hopes will take his pain away.
Jamie’s dilemma is similar. It’s clear that she wanted more from life than what that town could give her, but it’s also clear that London hasn’t provided her with anything she thought it would. It’s not clear if the special chemistry she has with Aden will be enough to keep her in that town, yet it’s clear she too is in denial about the depth of her feelings for him. Finally, she, too, tries to distract herself with excess.
Underneath all of the “fun” these potentially star-crossed lovers and their friends tell themselves they are having, they each are facing existential crises, which are the result of having deferred big choices in favour of a safe status quo. The film reveals that this turns out not to be that safe – writer-director David Campion artfully interweaves into the narrative the risk of real tragedy from a type of hedonism meant to cover up inner turmoil.
However, finally, you leave with a sense that the central characters have the potential to turn their lives around. They all just have too much going for them. And they will always have each other in one way or another. Finally, it is a paean to the lasting value of friendship, even when tested by underlying tensions, petty rivalry and imminent danger. Straight Through Crew finally leaves you with a glow.
This is a beautifully crafted, intelligent and affecting character piece. Beneath the fun, there is all-too-relatable pain and a thoroughly explored central human dilemma to which anyone can relate.
In my view, it is destined to be a true cult classic.
Destined to be a true cult classic.
Movie title: Straight Through Crew
Movie description: A contemporary tale about rural hedonism - It's Christmas Eve and a group of friends prepare to attend a village rave. However, dynamics are challenged when substances and feelings collide.
Date published: June 12, 2024
Country: UK
Director(s): David Campion
Actor(s): Charles Craddock, Jessica Pearce, Conchita Mbuyambo
Genre: Drama
As a screenwriter, Peter Stead has had short scripts produced in the Netherlands, Germany and the U.K. Believe, a found footage short he also produced and starred in, won awards at Romford Horror Festival and the Fortean Film Festival. In terms of short stories, Camera Anima Mea was published by Horrified Magazine and When We Fall is set to be included in the forthcoming anthology ‘British Gothic’ by Red Cape Publishing.
