Mint, the new BBC drama from director Charlotte Regan, takes the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet and transplants it into the world of rival crime families. The story follows Shannon, daughter of a Scottish crime family, and Arran, the prodigal son of a different crime family, who fall in love despite their families' bitter feud. The dialogue is spare and the visual style unalloyed, creating a magnetic and original feel.
Emma Laird, who plays Shannon, compares the drama to Twilight, saying it captures a romantic, beautiful, and naive cinematic world. Benjamin Coyle-Larner, known as rapper Loyle Carner, makes his acting debut as Arran. He describes their first meeting as 'interest at first sight,' noting that the characters come from such different worlds that they seem like animals from different parts of the world.
Regan, who won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance for her debut film Scrapper, says she is drawn to working-class characters and showing them in new ways. The drama incorporates visual effects, including sparks erupting around Arran whenever Shannon sees him, and uses Super 8 flashbacks to create a home-movie feel. Regan notes that the old VHS camera is cheap and looks cinematic, breaking down the barrier of watching film or TV.
Mint is a fresh take on the oldest love story, blending crime, romance, and visual storytelling to create something unique and compelling.
