BFI Distribution has announced that County Lines will be released in UK and Irish cinemas in November. The film is written and directed by Henry Blake and stars Conrad Khan, Ashley Madekwe and Harris Dickinson. It is described as a vivid and moving coming-of-age film about a struggling mum (Ashley Madekwe) and her 14-year-old son Tyler (Conrad Khan) who is groomed and recruited by Simon (Harris Dickinson) into a lethal drug-selling network – a ‘county line’ that exploits vulnerable children and puts them to work nationwide.
Writer/director Henry Blake based the film on his own experience; he has been a youth worker for 11 years and was first exposed to county lines back in 2015 while working in an East London PRU (a Pupil Referral Unit for children excluded from attending mainstream school). His first-hand knowledge from working with young people already taking part or at real risk of county lines exploitation, has enabled him to create an authentic film that beautifully captures the harsh reality so many vulnerable young people are going through all over the UK.
I’m really looking forward to this one. BFI Distribution will debut the film in cinemas on 20th November. here’s the most recent trailer.
