After four years of bouncing around the foster system, young Leon (Marcus Rutherford) makes his homecoming return to his troubled, alcoholic mother.
British filmmaker Jamie Jones breaks into the fiction drama genre with new feature film Obey, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 22nd, where it was in competition within the International Narrative Competition category and competed for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor and Best Actress.
Set in the tumultuous time of the 2011 East London, Leon not only returns home but also must adjust to life as a newly legal adult. Crippled by his lack of formal education and limited financial resources, Leon grows frustrated and finds comfort in the boxing ring.
Life for Leon seems rather bleak until he meets the rebellious and endearing Twiggy (Sophia Kennedy Clark). In order to escape her cold, rigid, wealthy family, Twiggy migrates and finds shelter amongst various abandoned houses.
Twiggy and Leon connect immediately. Their chemistry feels like it radiates past the screen, but soon Leon finds himself at a crossroad. As the riots and fights in the streets heat up between the police and the protesters, Leon must select whether he wants to remain in his neighborhood and join his friends in the crusade or abandon his tumultuous hometown and seek a new life with first-love in her polar world.
Marcus Rutherford, who plays Leon, delivers an absolutely raw and vulnerable performance. He beautifully captures the different aspects of his character and displays a wide range of emotion that add an undeniable depth and complexity to Leon.
The entire journey of Obey is emotional and captivating. Director Jamie Jones artfully captures the tumultuous process of a young man attempting to make the most of himself amongst historic rebellion.
Check out a trailer for the dramatic feature:
