Parents' Guide to Blue Story

A tough watch, this film doesn't hide from the destructive violence that it's shining a light on. The fact that the violence involves teens -- some of whom start Blue Story as innocents -- only adds to the shock and despair. Rather than glamorize it, director and writer Andrew Onwubolu (also known as Rapman) shows how easily teens can be drawn into gang life, no matter how reluctantly. The filmmaker actually appears sporadically throughout the movie, breaking the fourth wall and rapping directly to viewers. It's a technique that risks distracting audiences, but it's handled with aplomb and helps fill in gaps within the narrative. Odubola and Ward are great as the best friends who become warring enemies, and though it's a familiar path in storytelling -- think Greek tragedy or Shakespeare -- there's a genuine sadness as you see their relationship deteriorate beyond repair. A twist in the final act feels forced, and there's no happy ending. But, as is reflected in real life, this story rarely does.

The release of Blue Story in the U.K. was surrounded by controversy after a fight broke out between machete-carrying teens at a theater showing the movie. It was subsequently banned from some theaters -- a decision that was widely criticized. Thankfully, after some pressure, theaters changed their mind, as Blue Story is a movie that should be seen, no matter how tough.