Parents' Guide to County Lines

The debut feature from writer-director Henry Blake, this powerful crime drama won't fail to make an impact. The level of realism might make County Lines a little much for some, but the beautiful cinematography and impressive central performance from BAFTA-nominated Khan are difficult to ignore. And, while the movie may not be based on one individual's story, Blake's experience as a youth worker underpins the story—which the credits reveal could be true of any of the 10,000 young people involved in drug trafficking across the United Kingdom. The violence is intense and difficult to watch, but the human aspect is what makes the movie hard to look away from. Khan is often shown in close-up, separated from the world around him, and the sound of his breathing adds tension to a narrative already portrayed in an ominous six-months-earlier vs. six-months-later format. Darkness looms in every scene, yet there's warmth in many of the characters, from Tyler's little sister, Aliyah, to his struggling mother, Toni, and the multiple teachers at his school who see what's going on. Anthony Adjekum's Laurence, in particular, provides the knowing, understanding eye that Tyler's lost character so desperately needs. The movie borrows from a very British social-realist, kitchen-sink style filmmaking, but there are flourishes that elevate this into something different: Tyler driving away with Simon, the football pitch of his youth fading away in the background; his mother bathed in light as a car door opens and she's filled with hope for the future. There's an element of cautionary tale, of social call to action, but mostly this is a compelling story that will likely establish newcomers Blake and Khan as ones to closely watch.