The long take (single shot, long shot) consists of a sequence filmed in a single shot. In other words, there are no editing cuts or breaks in the shot. It has been used relatively infrequently because it’s expensive to shoot this way and, above all, because the slightest interpretive error breaks the take and the entire process must be repeated.
“Adolescence” is a series based on this principle: a series shot in several long takes to accentuate the drama of the situation. Netflix brings this experiment to television with the help of series creators Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and director Philip Barantini, who directed the 2021 film “Boiling Point” (also starring Stephen Graham), a movie that drew attention precisely for the drama of a single long take.
Plot
A special police unit violently bursts into a home and arrests a thirteen-year-old boy. Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is detained for the brutal stabbing of his classmate, Katie. As the story unfolds, we’re thrust into the eye of the hurricane, witnessing the shockwaves that ripple through Jamie’s family, the community, and the judicial system.
About the series
The series has many similarities with the aforementioned film (“Boiling Point”) and uses this narrative formulation to further accentuate the drama of the situations: the actors can’t make mistakes, the camera operators have to be alert, and everything has to be perfect during filming. Maximum tension inside and outside the set for this Netflix experiment.
“Adolescence” works well, very well on a narrative level: it has an excellent script and stands out, above all, for the performance of young Owen Cooper and veteran Stephen Graham, a specialist in dramatic roles. Alongside him, Ashley Walters plays the police officer in charge of the case. The actors are perfect and take their work seriously, managing to create a collective portrait of the situation: how a minor’s criminal process unfolds and the family circumstances it triggers.
“Adolescence” is above all a thriller, but not a classic thriller with a succession of fast-paced action sequences: it’s fast-paced in terms of rhythm, but the real interest of the plot lies in the realism of the situation and the psychology of the characters, which are the true narrative axes around which the script revolves.
“Adolescence” is a realistic series that is both dramatic and frenetic in terms of pace, and manages to transport us to the situation and investigate the case from various points of view: the parents, the child himself, the police, and the lawyer in charge of the case. A detailed and thorough analysis of the circumstances.
And, finally, it knows how to interest the public with the hook: Did this child commit the murder? What really happened? Here, the series works in a classic way, creating intrigue and giving information to the public in small doses to generate mystery.
Our opinion
It works in all aspects: technically, dramatically, in terms of performance, script, and direction, transferring the formula of “Boiling Point” to television.
A recommended series that, although based on an idea already realized, will surprise viewers looking for something new, realistic, and, above all, very dramatic.
Enjoy it!
Where to Watch “Adolescence”
The Cast
Faye Marsay
Christine Tremarco
Mark Stanley
Jo Hartley
Amelie Pease
