This urban spin on the classic story of star-crossed lovers sparked riots on its release in Belgium. Teenagers familiar with the source material – two young adult novels by Dirk Bracke, although Romeo and Juliet is another clear influence – protested over the film’s 16 certificate there. With its unflinching depiction of misogyny in Brussels gang culture, there are parallels with Céline Sciamma’s Girlhood. However, the depiction of sexual violence – there are two highly disturbing gang rape scenes – makes this a far tougher watch. With that warning in mind, there is much to recommend this picture, not least the nervy camerawork and a pair of knockout performances from Martha Canga Antonio and Aboubakr Bensaihi as young lovers from opposite sides of a gang war.
