“What’s more important: the truth or freedom from it?” could be a question raised as a summary of U.K. punk sensation The Clash, whose music and aesthetics are the backdrop of director Derrick Borte‘s music drama London Town. While The Clash themselves are featured — including Jonathan Rhys Meyers as frontman Joe Strummer — they seem to be a backdrop for a coming-of-age tale about a boy named Johnny (Daniel Huttlestone) who finds inspiration and enlightenment through the band’s rebellious stanzas.
Whether or not the film itself will capture the actual spirit of the punk scene, or merely paint a romanticized version of it is yet to be seen. However, the trailer promises a killer soundtrack and what looks to be a couple of captivating performances. See the trailer below for the film that also stars Dougray Scott, Natascha McElhone, and Tom Hughes.
Experience the music and energy of the 1970s punk underground. When fifteen-year-old Shay (Daniel Huttlestone) hears the music of The Clash for the first time, it’s a revelation, opening up a new world of social consciousness and anti-establishment defiance beyond anything he’s known in his dead-end London suburb. Drawn into the heart of the city’s burgeoning punk scene, he forges two relationships that will change his life, falling in love with rebellious cool girl Vivian (Nell Williams) and finding an unexpected connection with none other than The Clash’s electrifying frontman, Joe Strummer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Propelled by a blistering soundtrack that bounces from The Clash to The Ramones to Buzzcocks, London Town captures the sound and spirit of a scene that shook the world.
London Town hits theaters and VOD on October 7th.