Blue Story, the critically acclaimed gang drama that was pulled from Vue cinemas in 2019, is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. The film, written and directed by Rapman (real name Andrew Owubolu), boasts a near-perfect 93% Rotten Tomatoes score and has been praised as "absolutely beautiful" by fans demanding a sequel.
Plot and Cast
The film stars Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point) and Khali Best (EastEnders). It follows Timmy, a shy teenager from Deptford who attends school in Peckham and forms a deep friendship with Marco, a charismatic local lad, despite their rival postcodes. The story charts a gang rivalry that threatens to destroy their bond.
Critical Acclaim
One Rotten Tomatoes critic declared: "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 awarded the film a full ten stars, saying: "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 Cinema Ban
Blue Story was pulled from Vue cinemas in 2019 following a violent incident in Birmingham. Rapman maintained there was "no connection" between his film and the events. 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 firmly rejected any suggestion that the decision was racially motivated. A spokesperson told the BBC: "No. Categorically not." The chain clarified that the film was removed following 25 separate incidents reported by staff involving customers watching or attempting to watch the film.
Vue's founder and chief executive Tim Richards disputed claims that those involved in disturbances were attending screenings of Frozen 2, calling such reports "simply not true." He stressed the company "do not condone any form of violence, abuse of our staff or customers or discrimination in any form," while highlighting his career championing diversity in the industry.
Blue Story is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
