Blue Story, a critically acclaimed gangster film with a near-perfect 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, has quietly arrived on BBC iPlayer. The film, which was pulled from Vue cinemas in 2019 following a violent incident in Birmingham, is now available for streaming.
Plot and Cast
Written and directed by Rapman, whose real name is Andrew Owubolu, Blue Story stars Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point) and Khali Best (EastEnders). The film follows a gang feud that tears apart the deep-rooted friendship of a group of south London mates. The story centers on Timmy, a shy teenager from Deptford who attends school in Peckham, where he meets Marco, a charismatic boy from the area. Though they come from opposing postcodes, the two develop a profound friendship that is ultimately shattered by gang violence.
Critical Acclaim
The film has been praised by critics and audiences alike. One Rotten Tomatoes critic called it "absolutely beautiful, need a sequel now." Another reviewer wrote: "It's brutal, raw, and often hard to watch - and hard to understand at times. However, it is striking and will stay with you well after you watch it. The storytelling, with narrative hip hop interludes from Rapman is totally unique and fresh." An IMDB reviewer gave the film ten stars, stating: "It's the best film I've seen in a long time and I have watched A LOT of films recently. The film is accessible, whilst it focuses on gang violence it essentially focuses on a friendship and the relationship between one of those friends and his girlfriend. I found the film very moving. Rapman is unbelievably talented. The acting was amazing, the entire film was engaging from the very start to the very end. I will be telling everyone to watch this movie."
Controversy and Ban
Blue Story was withdrawn from Vue cinemas in 2019 after a violent incident in Birmingham. Rapman insisted there was "no connection" between his film and what occurred. He told BBC News: "They were just in a cinema apparently for Frozen [2] but then they pinned it on Blue Story. And then you start thinking, is there hidden reasons there? Is there a colour thing? You start thinking of all these things, and it was an upsetting time." Vue dismissed any implication the decision to pull Blue Story was racially driven, with a spokesperson telling the BBC: "No. Categorically not." The cinema chain explained the film had been removed following 25 distinct incidents reported by staff members involving customers watching or trying to watch the film, "either in screen, leaving the screening, heading into the screening, or purchasing tickets in the foyer." The spokesperson confirmed that Vue had introduced a number of measures, including increased security and the scrapping of late-night showings, but "continued to see significant problems." Vue's founder and chief executive Tim Richards challenged claims that those involved in disturbances at the cinema were attending screenings of Frozen 2 rather than Blue Story, dismissing such reports as "simply not true." He emphasised the company "do not condone any form of violence, abuse of our staff or customers or discrimination in any form," while pointing out that he has "spent his career championing diversity in the industry."
Streaming on BBC iPlayer
Despite the controversy, Blue Story has now found a home on BBC iPlayer, allowing a wider audience to experience the film. The film's arrival on the streaming platform has been met with enthusiasm from fans who previously missed the chance to see it in cinemas.
