Love + Hate

In a grim northern town, Naseema, a pretty Muslim girl, and white lad Adam strive to keep their blossoming romance away from the eyes of their respective families - Adam's brother and friends are racist thugs while Naseema's brother preaches Asian solidarity even as he cruises the town for young white girls. The resolution is a little too neat and there's quite a bit of contrivance in the nature of the inter-relationships, but this doesn't prevent 'Love + Hate' from being an immensely powerful look at racial hatred and hypocrisy. The subject matter and naturalism of the acting recall Ken Loach and young leads Samina Awan and Tom Hudson are sensational. A mature and often moving treatment of a difficult but vital issue. [Paul Greenwood]