Review of Ish: A Thoughtful Coming-of-Age Drama

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 31, 2026

London artist Imran Perretta's feature debut film follows a young boy named Ish as he copes with his mother's death while confronting social pressures and political unrest in contemporary Luton. The black-and-white drama uses stylistic nods to classic British coming-of-age films to explore how global conflicts and local tensions shape childhood innocence and identity.

A new coming-of-age drama set in contemporary Luton explores the complexities of childhood innocence amid the shadows of grief, social influences, and political unrest. Directed by London artist Imran Perretta in his feature debut, the film follows Ish, a young boy grappling with the recent loss of his mother to cancer. Over the course of a summer, Ish (played by Farhan Hasnat) spends time with his best friend Maram (Yahya Kitana), engaging in playful adventures in nearby woods and imagining youthful exploits such as bike stunts and mock fighting.

The film draws stylistic and thematic inspiration from classic British coming-of-age tales, including The 400 Blows, Kes, and This Is England, and employs the traditional “academy ratio” (1.37:1) in black and white to evoke a contemplative, arthouse aesthetic. This creative choice reflects a deliberate break from contemporary widescreen color films, positioning the work as a thoughtful exploration of youth and society.

Ish’s summer idyll is challenged by two divergent forces. On one side, he is drawn toward petty criminal behavior influenced by Maram’s older companions. On the other, he becomes unsettled by the presence of an unmarked police van patrolling Luton, a symbol of the encroaching sense of surveillance and fear. The narrative connects these local tensions to global conflict through news broadcasts and overheard conversations that link the distant war in Gaza to their everyday lives. Maram expresses a growing paranoia, warning Ish that “the IDF man is coming to town,” a metaphorical blending of distant geopolitical violence with their immediate environment.

Despite these darker undercurrents, the film ultimately centers on themes of family resilience, the sustaining power of cultural tradition, and the destructive nature of violence. Through Ish’s experience, the story conveys how personal loss and external conflicts intersect with the innocence of youth, shaping identity and worldview.

Critics have noted the film’s ability to balance tender, nuanced performances with its provocative subject matter, marking it as a promising introduction from its director. The work invites viewers to reflect on the impact of both personal and political turmoil on the lives of young people navigating their place in the world.

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