Monday, July 1, 2019

Up the Junction (1968)

Bored rich girl Polly (Suzy Kendall) heads into the poorer areas of London to look for some rough trade. Grim reality and great rock and roll from Manfred Mann ensue.

Really this is a way of exploring social issues prevalent in late 1960s Britain. The real story grittier stories behind Swinging London. That included industrial unrest, domestic violence, politicial protests and back street abortions. Suzy tries to recreate the working class realism she craves with Dennis Waterman though it's only a facade she can build. A fake working class life. She can leave it if things get too tough, something her new friends cannot do...

It is a wonderful period piece. At times it can be quite a dreary film but that's because it doesn't try and sanitise the 1960s as some films have tried.