主播大秀

From the producers of the hit TV drama series Shameless comes Mischief Night, a return to the screen for single mother Tina Crabtree (Kelli Hollis), whose chaotic life in Leeds was previously chronicled in Penny Woolcock's acclaimed Tina Goes Shopping and Tina Takes A Break. This time round Tina and her unruly children collide with the Khans, a local Pakistani family, during the lead up to Yorkshire's unique version of Halloween. A high-spirited comedy with plenty of neat tricks up its sleeve, this one's a real treat.

On the surface the Khans and the Crabtrees may not have much in common, but underneath the clans share more than first meets the eye. Both are cracking under the strain of living in a neighbourhood where drugs pushers outnumber newsagents and school kids spend more time learning how to roll a joint than their times tables. It's thanks to the rekindling of an old high school romance between Tina (Hollis) and Immie (Ramon Tikaram) that the families avoid clashing during a week of pranks. But in a town where the white and brown folk prefer to stick to their own, it's easier said than done.

"DEVILISH SENSE OF HUMOUR"

Commenting on subjects as grim as drug-related crime, forced marriages, religious intolerance and even paedophilia, it's a credit to Woolcock's bright screenplay that the film doesn't come across as preachy or depressing. By using a devilish sense of humour to poke fun at characters in situations as risqu茅 as pram pushing single mums high on crack, and mad mullahs attempting to take over mosques, Mischief Night manages to raise a laugh instead of offence. Besides offering a fresh perspective on race relations in Yorkshire, the comic performances of the child actors are a genuine delight.