"Don't be a slave. come to the rave!"

If there is one thing everyone in Scotland is missing right now with these Coronavirus restrictions, it's a good old piss up. No need to worry though. Just watch the 2019 film "BEATS" and all the memories of partying will come flooding back.

Based on a play by Kieran Hurley and directed by Brian Welsh, the film follows one mad night of revolution in 1994 West Lothian, then 2 friends, Johnno (Cristian Ortega) and Spanner (Lorn Macdonald), run away from their boring, working class lives for one final night of rebellion and freedom together to an illegal rave in protest of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill introduced by the Government. The film is based on the personal experiences of Welsh and he worked alongside the Hurley, the writer of the one-man show of the same title, to adapt "BEATS" into a film.

The film explores classic themes of 90's Scottish drug and rave culture, as well as friendship, family and revolution all combined with plenty of swearing (obviously) and one hell of a soundtrack taking us way back to the rave scene of the 90's.

the film is completely filmed in black and white apart from one hypnotizing rave scene which feels like it goes on forever but even makes the viewer feel like they're tripping a little. It reminds us of life, fun and just having the best time in a club with your best friend even if it does feel like you might have a seizure any minute.

As funny and joyous the film is, we also see the darkness of growing up during this time in Scotland and some parts are very difficult and tense to watch. It is a stark reminder of the reality of 90's Scotland and the deprived parts of the country at the time.

This film really captivated me. As a huge Irvine Welsh fan, I am not a stranger to the depiction of dark comedy of 90's Edinburgh. This film was another artistic tribute to those who experiences these hardships during the 90's in Scotland and the friendship between the 2 main characters just makes you think of that 1 friend we all have that we would fun off with for one amazing night, no matter what the consequences might be in the morning when we plodded in the house in the morning with out mum's waiting to scold us. Its a friendly reminder to live life and a dark but beautiful representation of growing up in 90's Scotland.