Never Had A Chance (18)
Directed by Jazz Bhalla
⭑⭑⭑⭑☆

FEW outside the Punjabi community of Hounslow in west London will have an inkling of what life is like for many second or third generation youngsters growing up between two contrasting worlds: the traditional culture of their parents and grandparents, challenged by the world of exile, in a community set apart from the surrounding white English population.

The soundtrack draws on British Asian music and dub influences, channelling the sound of west London in a raw and immersive audio experience.

The pace is fast and relentless. The protagonists’ lives are convincingly portrayed by all the actors, particularly the protagonists, Ravi (Amar Chaggar) and his mate played by Jayant Singh. It follows the two, trying to navigate the weight of their past while also building a future. 

Rooted in the lived realities of west London’s Punjabi community, this is a powerful story that offers an unfiltered yet compassionate look at identity, friendship and survival. It portrays the complexity of a British Asian culture, spotlighting a community rarely portrayed on screen with this level of authenticity.

Through its characters, the film explores the tension between circumstance and choice. For young men, particularly, the prospects of achieving wealth and success are bleak and it becomes all too easy to slide into a twilight world of drug-dealing and gambling. Their dreams as they express them are fast cars, loads of money, girls and pleasure, but without having to work hard for it.

The vernacular jargon throughout is limited to a few dozen words, the main one of which is “fucking.” This prevents us being able to penetrate their lives in any more meaningful manner or to any depth.

While it is a powerful and moving drama, what is missing for me is the connection between the empty lives of these young men and how they have been let down by the education system and the society they find themselves in.

Its director, Jazz Bhalla, says: “This film is rooted in experiences and situations that will feel very real to many young people growing up in west London. It explores pressure, identity and the choices people make when they feel boxed in by their environment. At its heart, Never Had a Chance is about striving for something better, even when the odds feel stacked against you.”

In cinemas Friday 14.