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Farming (2018) |
"Farming" explores the terrifying voyage of a young Nigerian kid named Enitan across the turbulent terrain of ethnic identity and belonging in England throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, the film's director and writer, uses it as a vehicle to explore in great detail his own experiences growing up in the "farming" system—a cultural practice that involved giving Nigerian children to white British families for foster care.
Enitan, played with unadulterated passion by Damson Idris, is the protagonist of the story. His life drastically changes when he is taken into the custody of a working-class White family. After being dropped off by his birth parents and placed in an unfamiliar setting, Enitan struggles with a deep sense of alienation and displacement. His Nigerian background and his new environment are difficult for him to reconcile, and he feels torn between two different cultures that don't completely accept him.
Enitan faces everyday bigotry and discrimination as he tries to reconcile the difficulties of his dual identity. Enitan faces constant discrimination because of his heritage, from open antagonism from members of his chosen community to taunting from playground bullies. Enitan is left physically and mentally crushed and scarred as the violence that has been boiling under the surface explodes.
Enitan, who is desperate to fit in, finds comfort in the most unlikely place: a skinhead group headed by the effervescent Levi, who is depicted by John Dagleish with terrifying sincerity. Enitan sheds his Nigerian origins in an attempt to fit in, embracing their discriminatory views and fanatical philosophy as a method of survival. Enitan, however, loses himself in a web of violence and hatred as he is more and more entangled in the murky underbelly of the gang.
Enitan encounters people who reject social standards and has brief moments of understanding and connection with them along his turbulent trip. In her portrayal of Sarah, a kind social worker who turns into a ray of hope in Enitan's chaotic existence, Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives a nuanced performance. Enitan receives steadfast support and direction from Sarah despite their disagreements, encouraging him to face his problems and restore his identity.
Enitan is forced to face the upsetting realities of his history and the trauma that still haunts him as he struggles with the effects of his decisions. Viewers are given insight into Enitan's childhood in Nigeria through a sequence of moving flashbacks, which also illuminate the circumstances that eventually led to his displacement. These moving times of reflection are a sobering reminder of the long-lasting damage caused by colonialism and institutionalized tyranny.
"Farming" is fundamentally a biting critique of the destructive consequences of racism and the long-lasting legacy of cultural assimilation. The film pushes viewers to face hard realities about how ubiquitous bias is in society through its uncompromising depiction of one young man's quest for identity. With its stirring story and stirring performances, "Farming" is a moving example of the human spirit's resiliency in the face of hardship.
VIDEO RECAP OF "FARMING (2018)"
CAST OF "FARMING (2018)"
Leke Adebayo as Alahgi
Ademola Adedoyin as Paddy
Adejola Adeyemi as Monday
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Femi
Michael Akinsulire as Nigerian Teacher
David Alase as Older Mouthy
Zephan Hanson Amissah as Young Emi
Brooklyn Appiah as Sunday
Shane Attwooll as Lead Docker
Zach Avery as Officer Martin Fellows
Rachael Banjo as Older Mingle
Theo Barklem-Biggs as Scum
Kate Beckinsale as Ingrid Carpenter
Bradley Bissett as Tony Smith
Scarlett Brookes as Deb
Kirstie Brough as Trace
Craig Canning as Tough Pupil
Tom Canton as Bomber
More Info
Director: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Writer: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Release Date: October 25, 2019
Countries of Origin: United Kingdom - United States - France
Filming Locations: Gillingham, Kent, England, UK
Production Companies: EMG Management - Groundswell Productions - Logical Pictures
Estimated Budget: $89,374
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes