Watch Awaydays

Awaydays is a 2009 British drama film directed by Pat Holden and based on a novel of the same name by Kevin Sampson. The story is set in the backdrop of the 1979-80 football season in Liverpool and follows a group of young football hooligans known as the ‘Pack’ from the Wirral Peninsula who are obsessed with their club, Tranmere Rovers.

The protagonist of the film is a quiet, introverted teenager named Carty (played by Nicky Bell), who joins the Pack after meeting Elvis (Liam Boyle), the group's charismatic leader, at a Tranmere Rovers match. Elvis is immediately drawn to Carty's quiet demeanor and seems to have an immediate trust in him. Elvis takes Carty under his wing and introduces him to the others who make up the Pack.

The group's main activities seem to be going to matches, getting drunk, taking drugs, and fighting with rival hooligans. However, the Pack members also have their own personal issues to deal with; some have problems at home, while others struggle with their own identities and relationships. The group's interactions provide a complex study of the male psyche, whilst also identifying the need for community at the fringes of societal norms.

One of the underlying themes is the sense of belonging. The Pack members view each other as a family, a surrogate family that provides them with the belonging they crave. There is a sense of camaraderie between them that appears akin to a cult mentality. As the film progresses, questions are raised about how far they will go to protect their "family" and with little self-awareness of where they are headed.

The film is set against the backdrop of the Thatcher years, with widespread strikes and high unemployment. The sense of disillusionment felt by the young characters, provides an interesting insight into their psyche, highlighting a level of disenfranchisement, a sense of rejection by mainstream society, creating tension between the Pack and the society in which they live.

The character of Elvis, whilst initially presenting a flamboyant larger than life character, through the words and actions of his character development, portrays someone unsure of his identity, torn between a life of masculine posturing and being true to the real him.

Stephen Graham plays John Godden, a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter at odds with the Pack. The confrontation between Godden and the Pack shifts the focus of the film, moving from a coming-of-age drama to a more violent, brutal film, exposing the ugliness of football hooliganism.

Awaydays also presents a unique aesthetic sense; it was shot in black and white, adding a sense of realism to the story. The film features a stark, abstract visual style that reflects the more surreal, introspective moments of the film. However, despite the disaffected and bleak setting, the film's dry wit and humour is never far from the surface, providing a lightness to the darkness of their existence.

In conclusion, Awaydays is a raw and gritty drama set to a unique soundtrack that gives a powerful reflection of its 80s setting, highlighting what drives people to become hooligans, and exploring the idea of masculinity, identity, and societal rejection in a powerful and hard-hitting way, solidifying the strength and impact of the Pack mentality for both emotional support and survival.

Awaydays is a 2009 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.