Rapper-turned-director Ben Drew, better known by the stage name Plan B, attended the world premiere of his debut movie "iLL Manors" on Wednesday.
The film is a graphic portrayal of crime and its consequences that revolves around a series of events, interweaving between characters and their narrative in a rough area of east London.
Some critics have said the film is misogynistic because of the amount of violence towards women -- a charge Drew angrily confronted, saying it's just life on the streets.
SOUNDBITE: Director, Ben Drew, saying (English):
"There's a lot of violence. Yeah I know what, you want to say the film's misogynistic. Go on the street, me and you we'll go down Hackney [area of East London] now, you show me how many female drug dealers, like at the top, that are running the streets. Or you can come and I'll show you all the prostitutes that have got pimps, that have got men beating them around and forcing them to do things they don't want to do. The streets are misogynistic."
The lead role of Aaron is played by rising British star Riz Ahmed, who also starred in controversial British black comedy "Four Lions". He said the movie should have particular resonance in the UK after the 2011 summer riots, where many young people were involved in lootings across the British capital
SOUNBITE, Actor, Riz Ahmed, saying (English):
"I think a lot of the film is a really uncomfortable watch. But I think it's important that it raises these issues and it puts them there on the table because you know it's only a year ago that the whole of the UK was in flames and it's kind of unbelievable that underprivileged young people is now off the agenda completely."
The title "iLL Manors" is the same as a record Drew released in March 2012, a song which deals with the 2011 London riots and which was described by Britain's Guardian newspaper as "the first great mainstream protest song in years".
"iLL Manors" is released in the UK on June 6.
Edward Baran, Reuters
