A great film from director Lindy Heymman, centering on the friendship between two teenage girls in Liverpool and their search for fame, or something bigger than themselves.
Nicole (played incredibly well by Kerry Hayes) is harbouring an obsessive crush on star footballer Lee (Jamie Doyle), with nothing else in her life to interest her. She sees nothing else except him, her family being practically invisible-both emotionally and physically.
When she bumps into fellow fan Jasmine (Nichola Burley) they form a close bond. After they learn that the good looking celebrity is planning to move to another club, their shared obsession turns from something innocent into something warped and dangerous.
Kicks is a sad, knowing, heart wrenching exploration of the cult of celebrity. As the story takes unexpected turns, it starts to feel almost fabalistic, and could be about any young love-oblivious to the outside world. Within everything there is hope though, and what's interesting is that at the center is a touching friendship between the girls. Jasmine is the older of the two, and although equally naive, holds a different kind of motivation. Where Nicole holds what she thinks is true love for Lee, Jasmine is driven by the urge for fame. When Nicole tells her that her problem is she doesn't have a real heart, 'just a cash register', she replies 'nah, mine would be one of those flash new card machines'. What they share is a friendship that gives each of them hope and confidence, it's just that neither of them seems to actually realise this. All each of them sees is the object of their affections.
Each actor gives a complex performence, no one person is portrayed as anything close to simple. Kerry Hayes in particular is excellent-innocent and naive, yet dangerous. Once your eyes are on her it's hard to look away. The cinematography is beautiful; in its late night colours and early dawns, Liverpool's vastness looks almost mythical. Everything is damaged and run down but stunning, like a metaphor for the bittersweet highs and lows of young life.
A compassionate and knowing tale of friendship, obsession, being young and growing up.
